Chicago, IL – A Chicago-area mother is urging parents to monitor children’s social media influences after her 9-year-old son suffered severe burns from a viral TikTok trend involving a popular sensory toy.
According to Loyola University Medical Center, the child was treated at its Burn Center after a gel-filled NeeDoh “Nice Cube” toy burst after being heated in a microwave. The toy is designed to be squeezed for stress relief and explicitly warns against heating.
Caleb Chabolla, 9, was injured about two weeks ago at his family’s home near Plainfield in Will County. After microwaving the toy to make it softer — a technique circulating on social media — the cube exploded, sending hot gel onto his face. He was first taken to a local hospital before being transferred to Loyola’s Burn Center in Maywood, a western Chicago suburb.
Doctors said Caleb was fortunate. Despite significant facial swelling, he did not suffer permanent eye damage and is healing without surgery.
Kelly McElligott, burn outreach coordinator at Loyola’s Burn Center, said this is not an isolated incident. According to Loyola, roughly 30% of burn patients treated there are children. Many injuries stem from everyday household items.
“Whether it’s toys with ‘do not heat’ labels, hot ramen noodles, or kids pulling hot coffee off counters, these are injuries we see every year,” McElligott said. “Parents need to be diligent about what’s accessible in the home.”
Hospital officials emphasized that Caleb did not personally see the trend on TikTok but heard about it from friends, highlighting how quickly online challenges spread beyond social media platforms.
WGN News has contacted Schylling, the Massachusetts-based company that manufactures NeeDoh, for comment but had not received a response as of publication.
Medical professionals urge families to follow manufacturer instructions and to talk with children about the risks of attempting online challenges at home.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
