A 9-year-old boy in Plainfield, Illinois, suffered serious burns after trying a viral "hack" on TikTok that involves microwaving a NeeDoh sensory toy, prompting burn experts to warn families that heating gel-filled stress toys can cause them to rupture and spray scalding contents.
The child, Caleb Chabolla, was injured Jan. 20 after placing a NeeDoh toy in a microwave in an effort to make it softer and more pliable, according to Loyola Medicine and interviews with his family. In seconds, the toy burst, and a thick, gel-like substance stuck to his face and hands, his mother, Whitney Grubb, told ABC 7 Chicago.
Loyola Medicine said Caleb was transferred to the burn center at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for treatment, and that his vision was expected to be OK despite the burns being close to his eye, according to Parents.
Doctors at Loyola said the case reflects a broader pattern tied to social media challenges. Burn outreach coordinator Kelly McElligott said the injured children are not always the ones posting videos, and that clips can make dangerous behavior look harmless. Loyola Medicine also said Caleb was the fourth case the center had seen this year involving NeeDoh-related burns.
At the same time, Shriners Children's said it has treated patients at multiple locations for severe burns connected to the same trend, which encourages children to microwave gel-filled stress toys to make them more malleable, NBC News reported.
Dr. Alice Fagin warned that when these toys rupture, the hot gel can be sticky, cling to skin, and cause deeper burns, adding that "even 15 seconds in a microwave can raise the temperature to more than 200°F." Shriners Children's emphasized that the injuries are linked to misuse, heating toys that were not designed to be heated, rather than a product defect.
Hospitals and burn specialists are urging parents to talk with children about online trends, supervise younger kids around appliances, and read toy safety warnings carefully.
Shriners Children's advises that if a child suffers a scald burn, caregivers should remove the child from the hot substance, take off clothing near the injury, cool the area with cool tap water (not ice), and seek medical care, calling 911 if needed.
Caleb and his mother said they hope sharing his experience will discourage other children from copying risky "challenges" without asking an adult first, as per ABC7.
