The CPSC says children and teens should never microwave squishy toys: heated toys can burst and spill sticky filling that keeps transferring heat and can cause severe burns. By September 2026, it had identified 55 counterfeit-toy shipments at U.S. ports and blocked 355,683 units.
Heat outside a microwave can pose similar dangers: the CPSC says the toys can become hazardous in hot vehicles or direct sunlight. The agency also says counterfeit versions may contain lead, expanding water beads or other hazardous substances if their contents leak.
For burns, the CPSC recommends cooling the area under running water for at least 20 minutes, gently washing off material with mild soap, avoiding ice, covering the wound and seeking medical attention. It has separately recalled thousands of squishy dumpling toys because their water-bead filling could grow beyond federal limits and pose a severe choking hazard.
