Doctors are warning parents about the risks of serious burns to children from microwaving NeeDoh toys, a type of gel-filled sensory toy. The toys are designed to be squeezed and manipulated, but some children have been microwaving them to soften the gel, resulting in severe burns.

Dangers of Microwaving NeeDoh Toys

According to Dr. Emily Werthman, manager of the Johns Hopkins Burn Center, the gel inside the toys can cause serious burns when heated. ‘It’s incredibly painful for these patients, because these types of burns, just by their nature, are very, very painful,’ Werthman said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents monitor their children’s online activities and talk to them about the dangers of microwaving NeeDoh toys. ‘We have to talk to kids about how unsafe it is to be microwaving these toys and how to be careful with them if you leave them in the car,’ Werthman said.

The NeeDoh website displays a warning: ‘NeeDoh products 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.’ Despite this warning, some children have been microwaving the toys after seeing videos online that encourage this behavior.

Preventing Burns from NeeDoh Toys

To prevent burns from NeeDoh toys, parents should supervise their children when they are playing with the toys and ensure that they are not microwaving them. If a child does suffer a burn from a NeeDoh toy, parents should remove the hot gel with a clean towel and cool water, and then seek medical attention if necessary.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.