Microwaving Squishy Toys Sparks Scary Burn Trend Among Kids

A dangerous trend on social media has left a young girl in Bristol with serious burns, and her mother is warning other parents to be careful. Ten-year-old Bella was at a friend's house when she tried a challenge she saw online. The challenge involved microwaving a squishy toy, which is a soft, squeezable toy that many children like to play with. After microwaving the toy, Bella and her friend squeezed it, and it burst, spilling hot liquid onto their faces. Bella's mother, Charlotte, said that when Bella came home, her face was bright red, and she had blisters and missing skin. Charlotte is worried that Bella could have scars on her face for the rest of her life.

Charlotte learned about the trend after other parents told her about it. She searched TikTok and found many videos of kids and adults microwaving squishy toys to make them more elastic. These videos made it look fun, but they did not show the dangers. Charlotte posted about Bella's accident on Facebook to warn other parents. Another mother, Gemma, replied that her child had also been burned after trying the same trend. Gemma said it was a terrifying experience.

Experts are warning parents and children not to copy dangerous trends from the internet. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said that using household appliances the wrong way can have serious consequences. They want parents to talk to their children about the risks and remind them that microwaves are not toys. TikTok said that any videos showing dangerous behavior will be removed. The government is also considering new rules to make social media safer for children. Charlotte supports these changes because she believes some apps seem safe but can actually be dangerous. She hopes that by sharing Bella's story, other children will not get hurt in the same way. Parents and teachers are being encouraged to talk to children about the risks of copying things they see online and to make sure they know how to stay safe.