An Illinois mom is warning other parents after her 9-year-old son suffered multiple burn injuries after he microwaved a sensory toy for kids.
Whitney Grubb told ABC News her 9-year-old son Caleb Chabolla warmed up a sensory toy called a NeeDoh Nice Cube in a microwave for about 40 seconds. After taking the toy out of the microwave, it exploded, according to Grubb, causing injuries to Caleb's face and hands.
"My main goal with this is just to get the warning out about the product and the challenge that's going on and show it to your kids," Grubb told ABC News. "This is what can happen if you try some of these silly things that some children unfortunately have gotten hurt with."
NeeDoh toys, like the NeeDoh Nice Cube, are a line of sensory toys from the toy company Schylling. They are promoted as objects that can be stretched and squeezed without losing shape. Schylling has included a warning on the website for NeeDoh Nice Cube toys that specifically warns consumers, "CHOKING HAZARD -- Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs., Do NOT heat, freeze, or microwave, may cause personal injury."
Grubb said that while her son got the idea to microwave the toy from a friend, there are videos shared online where the NeeDoh Nice Cubes are placed in a microwave, in an attempt to make them more pliable.
Grubb said she initially heard Caleb yelling and saw his face covered in a gel-like substance.
"I just heard him screaming and yelling, 'It burns. It burns,'" the mom of three recalled of the Jan. 20 incident. "He stopped in front of me, and I saw the right side of his face was just covered in this clear, kind of really thick gel."
Grubb said she rushed Caleb to a local emergency room before he was transferred to Loyola University Medical Center's Burn Center in Maywood, Illinois.
Loyola Medicine confirmed to ABC News that Caleb was treated for second-degree burns on his face, ear and hands. A nurse with Loyola University Medical Center's Burn Center said Caleb's injury is the fourth the hospital has treated this year due to microwaving NeeDoh Nice Cube toys.
"Unfortunately, Caleb's is the fourth case we have seen this year with NeeDoh cubes," said Paula Petersen, a nurse with Loyola University Medical Center's Burn Center. "Caleb is very lucky he didn't sustain greater injuries. These trends can be extremely dangerous for young people who are less likely to consider or unable to understand the serious consequences."
ABC News has reached out to Schylling, the maker of NeeDoh Nice Cube toys, for comment.
Grubb said Caleb was released from the hospital after being admitted overnight and returned to school for the first time on Wednesday after a two-week recovery period.
"He's doing good," Grubb said. "He's kind of getting back into the normal swing of his life."
