Doctors are warning parents about the dangers of children microwaving NeeDoh toys, which can cause serious burns. The gel-filled sensory toys have become a popular trend on social media, with some children attempting to soften them by microwaving them, despite the manufacturer’s warnings against it.
Dangers of Microwaving NeeDoh Toys
According to Dr. Emily Werthman, the manager of the Johns Hopkins Burn Center in Baltimore, microwaving NeeDoh toys can cause severe burns, including those to the hands, arms, laps, and faces. Werthman estimates that she has seen about a dozen such cases recently.
The NeeDoh website explicitly warns against microwaving the toys, stating that they are designed to stay sealed and should not be cut open, eaten, heated, frozen, or microwaved, as misuse can damage the toy and create safety risks.
Parental Awareness and Monitoring
Parents are urged to be aware of their children’s online activities and to monitor their behavior. Dr. Maneesha Agarwal, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, notes that the trend of microwaving NeeDoh toys is not limited to the NeeDoh brand and that any gel-filled sensory toy can pose a risk if misused.
Experts recommend that parents talk to their children about the dangers of microwaving these toys and encourage them to be careful when handling them. In the event of a burn, parents should remove the hot gel using a clean towel with cool water and then cool the wound with cool running water before seeking medical attention if necessary.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
