Fake squishy toys linked to 260% rise in child burn injuries
The Children's Burns Trust says fake squishy toys are linked to a 260% rise in child burn injuries, while Manchester Trading Standards has seized 40,000 unsafe toys.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Fake squishy toys have been linked to a sharp rise in child burn injuries, with the Children's Burns Trust reporting a 260 per cent increase in cases involving the toys between January and July compared with the same period last year.
The toys, colourful collector's items that are squeezed by hand and marketed at children, have gone viral on social media. Real versions, including mini RMS squishy dumplings sold by retailers such as Five Below, carry the RMS mark on the plastic base. But the market has been flooded with counterfeit versions that can be dangerous.
One four-year-old boy, Hudson, needed hospital treatment after a knock-off toy his mother bought online split in his hands. He said the toy exploded in his hand and he had to go to hospital. His mother said she washed the substance out of his eyes and thought he seemed fine. He was back playing later that day. The next morning, his eyes were extremely swollen and he could not open them. He was very scared. His vision is now fine and the swelling has gone, but his mother is urging parents to avoid cheap squishy toys bought online and to buy from proper toy shops.
The Children's Burns Trust says the injuries are often serious. Many TikTok videos suggest freezing the toys or heating them in a microwave. The resulting burns can combine heat and chemicals from the substance that leaks out. Because children hold the toys and look at them closely, burns often affect the hands and face. The burns can be deep and may lead to lifelong scarring.
Manchester Trading Standards has seized around 40,000 dangerous or fake toys in recent months. A number of those items were squishy toys. Demand has risen, and so has the supply of fake or unsafe versions. Counterfeit toys have also been linked to other safety problems. Some lack the CE or UKCA mark, come in cheap packaging and carry no information on the item itself. Parts pull off easily, creating a choking hazard if they are swallowed.
The seized stock is being stored in a depot after raids, including one in Manchester. The problem grows when a product becomes a trend, according to those dealing with the seizures. When there is money to be made, some suppliers rush products through without carrying out checks or finding out what rules apply. They focus on meeting demand, not on safety.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  | Sky News Mornings |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| A four-year-old boy required hospital treatment after a counterfeit squishy toy bought online split in his hands. | Sky News MorningsReported by Sky News Mornings | |
| Manchester Trading Standards seized around 40,000 dangerous or fake toys in recent months, including some squishy toys. | Sky News MorningsReported by Sky News Mornings | |
| The Children's Burns Trust reported a 260% increase in burn injuries linked to fake squishy toys between January and July compared with the same period last year. | Sky News MorningsReported by Sky News Mornings | |
| Only on one channel | ||
| Counterfeit versions of the toys were linked to choking hazards because parts could detach easily and be swallowed. | Reported by Sky News | Not reported by Sky News Mornings |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News Mornings leads with a parent-focused safety warning, using the case of four-year-old Hudson to show how a fake toy bought online led to hospital treatment. It stresses the 260 per cent rise in burns, the risk of counterfeit toys, and enforcement seizures in Manchester. The segment appears to be the first part of a package and cuts off before the full choking hazard explanation.
- “they may look cute but some of the toys your children are playing with may be filled with dangerous chemicals”
- “The Children's Burns Trust has seen a 260% increase in burn injuries related to fake squishy toys since last year”
- “Manchester Trading Standards have seized around 40,000 dangerous or fake toys over the last few months.”
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker runs the same consumer safety report in fuller form, keeping the focus on the child injury case and the rise in burns but adding more detail on counterfeit toys and choking risks. It also includes enforcement context from Manchester Trading Standards and a closing explanation of how demand for trends can push unsafe products onto the market. The tone is urgent and parent-facing, with no challenge to the Children's Burns Trust figures.
- “Now they may look cute but some of the toys that your children are playing with Could actually be filled with dangerous chemicals”
- “The Children's Burns Trust say there has been a 260% increase In burn injuries related to the toys between January and July Compared to the same period last year”
- “when there's money to be made People will rush things through They won't carry out the cheques”
Broadcast Timeline
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