Some squishies have caused “severe burns when they pop,” and parents are now asking if a toy can be safe when it fails this badly.
That question lands hard because squishies are everywhere. Toy stores cannot keep enough of them in stock. Sales reached about $297 million through June, a 400% rise from just 12 months earlier, according to CNBC.
That is a huge jump.
Kids want them. Stores want to sell them. Parents buy them because they look simple. Soft. Easy.
Then the toy breaks.
Business Insider reporter Julia Pugachevsky calls squishies “unregulated.” She also reports that some have caused “severe burns when they pop.” Parents say the toys pose safety risks to kids.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission added a warning in August. It said exposing squishies to heat could cause bodily harm.
The warning is clear. Do not microwave them. Do not heat them on purpose. Do not leave them in a hot car, direct sunlight, or near a heater.
That sounds basic. It is also not enough.
A child may not heat the toy on purpose. A toy may sit in a car. It may rest near a window. It may be squeezed during normal play. The key risk is not only a bad choice by a child. It is what happens when a popular toy bursts and the filling touches skin.
The CPSC says heated squishies can become dangerously hot and burst. The material inside may stick to skin and keep transferring heat. That can make a burn worse.
I love what good technology can do for daily life. I love products that give kids a simple way to play, focus, or calm down. A squishy toy looks like a small invention with a clear purpose. Press it. Feel it. Put it down.
But the catch is sitting inside the toy.
Parents are being asked to judge a product they may not understand. Is it genuine? Is it counterfeit? Does it have proper warnings? Does it contain safe material? Has it been tested for the way children really use it?
Those answers are not always clear.
The CPSC warned that fake and counterfeit squishy toys may fail to meet federal safety rules. Some may contain unsafe substances or small parts. Some may lack proper warnings and manufacturer information.
That creates two problems at once. A parent may buy a popular toy in good faith. The child may then use it as intended. If the toy fails, the family may have little warning before the injury starts.
The sales figures make this harder. About $297 million in sales means millions of chances for a product problem to spread. A 400% rise in 12 months means the market moved much faster than many parents could learn its risks.
Popularity does not prove danger. It does show reach.
And reach changes the stakes.
The current public facts do not settle how well all squishies are regulated. They do not show whether existing safety standards fully address burns from toys that rupture during ordinary use. They also do not tell parents which products are safe simply because they are sold in a normal store.
That gap matters.
The CPSC warning focuses on heat. That gives parents one clear rule: keep squishies away from heat. It does not erase every question about quality, materials, damage, age labels, or counterfeit products.
For now, parents can check the toy before handing it over. Look for a clear maker, age guidance, and safety warnings. Avoid damaged toys. Keep them out of hot cars and sunlight. Never microwave or intentionally heat them.
If one bursts, the CPSC says to place burned skin under cool running water for at least 20 minutes. Do not use ice. Seek medical care for a severe burn, a burn involving a young child, or signs of infection.
That advice is practical. It is also a sign of how serious the failure can be.
I do not think the answer is to panic over every soft toy. I do think parents deserve plain facts before a craze reaches its peak. Toy stores can sell fast. Social media can spread faster. Safety warnings need to move faster still.
A squishy should be a toy a child can put down without a parent wondering whether it will hurt them. Until the open questions are answered, that small act of checking matters.
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