• "Needoh Cube" toy causes burns when microwaved

• TikTok trend leads several children to injuries

A mother from Plainfield, USA, has warned parents and children about a popular toy that caused severe burns on half of her 9-year-old son’s face.

Loyola Medicine reported that four children have arrived at the emergency room in recent months with burns from the "Needoh Cube," a sensory toy filled with flexible gel material.

The hospital clarified that the toy itself is safe, but a trending challenge on TikTok encourages children to place the gel cubes in the microwave, causing them to explode and result in serious burns.

Mother Whitney Grubb said her son, Caleb Chabolla, tried the idea after hearing about it from friends at school. He put a cube in the microwave before leaving for school, which exploded on his face and hands, causing second-degree burns.

"I heard him scream and saw him run to the bathroom, and the material had already burst on his face," she said.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Caleb underwent burn cleaning, removal of dead skin, and ointment application. An ophthalmologist checked his eyes, which, fortunately, were unharmed, according to Kelly McElligott from the hospital's burn center.

McElligott confirmed that Caleb is not the only child affected by this trend, noting other cases of children burning their fingers after microwaving the cubes.

Doctors advised all families not to heat these toys in any way, whether in the microwave or hot water, and emphasized the importance of teaching children about the dangers of unsafe experiments despite the warnings on the product.