Multiple outlets report that children are suffering serious burns after participating in a social media trend involving “squishy” toys filled with gel. The reported method is to heat the toys in a microwave, then handle them while the gel is hot. In these incidents, the toys are said to explode or burst, covering children with burning gel and causing thermal injuries. The accounts describe injuries ranging from severe burns to cases requiring medical procedures, including surgery and skin grafts. Reports state that some children have needed specialist treatment after the gel caused extensive damage to their skin. The coverage also highlights the broader context of online trends that encourage risky at-home activities and normalise improper or unsafe use of household appliances to prepare toys. Across the reports, the common elements are the microwave-heating step, the toy’s explosive failure, and the resulting burns that lead to hospital treatment.