A seven-year-old girl from Telford suffered painful blisters on her hand after her £12.99 NeeDoh squishy toy suddenly burst, leaking gel onto her skin. Unlike other cases where children have experienced burns after microwaving these toys to soften them, this incident occurred without any heating, sparking alarm for parents and safety advocates.
Livi Barnard’s mother, René, 46, recounted how her daughter came home from school and complained of a burning sensation on her hand. “She loves this NeeDoh toy. She was sitting at the kitchen table when she said, ‘Mum, the liquid’s come out and it’s burnt my hand,’” René explained. Initially believing the gel was non-toxic and harmless, she encouraged Livi to run her hand under cold water. However, when blisters quickly developed and her daughter’s pain worsened, René sought medical advice.
After contacting the NHS helpline 111, they were advised to take Livi to Princess Royal Hospital in Telford. Because the hospital lacks a burns unit, doctors forwarded images to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for specialized assessment. Livi’s blisters were treated and she was sent home, but returned the following day to have the blisters professionally removed under gas and air sedation. She now requires daily visits to the doctor for wound dressing changes as she recovers.
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René warned other parents to be cautious with these popular toys. “The doctors even told me that they would tell their own families to bin these toys,” she said. “I plan to keep them in the fridge to avoid heat exposure since all the kids are playing with them right now.” She also expressed relief that her younger child has shown no interest in the toy, as toddlers could be at greater risk of serious injury.
Bigjigs Toys, the UK distributor for NeeDoh, confirmed they are investigating the incident. A spokesperson noted concerns about counterfeit products flooding the market, stating, “We take all reports like this very seriously and are working to determine if this was a genuine NeeDoh.”
This case highlights potential hazards associated with squishy toys, even when used as intended, and serves as a reminder for parents to supervise closely and monitor the condition of children’s toys.