Las Vegas, NV (December 30th, 2025) – A Consumer Reports investigation has uncovered safety hazards with popular squishy gel fidget toys that are rupturing during use and injuring children. Laboratory analysis discovered that at least one bestselling product contains internal gel with extreme acidity that poses chemical burn risks to young users, presenting significant safety concerns for Las Vegas families.
If your child has suffered burns or skin injuries from a defective toy, George Bochanis Injury Law Offices can help you pursue compensation. Call 702-388-2005 for a free consultation with an experienced dangerous product lawyer.
Consumer Reports Uncovers Chemical Burn Hazards in Children’s Toys
Consumer Reports researchers acquired and analyzed eight popular squishy fidget toys following numerous parental complaints on retail platforms and federal safety databases describing rapid product failure and resulting skin damage. These colorful gel-filled products are promoted as therapeutic sensory devices and anxiety-reduction tools for young people.
The study examined what occurs when these products fail structurally, an issue parents frequently reported. Researchers intentionally ruptured the toys and measured the acidity levels of the internal gel. Most products showed neutral readings, but the Nee-Doh “Groovy Glob” registered a pH of 2, matching the acidity of citrus juice or cooking vinegar.
Safety specialists at Consumer Reports indicated that this degree of acidity creates substantial risk for chemical burns, especially given children’s more sensitive skin. Government incident databases contain multiple reports documenting severe skin reactions in children after their toys burst during ordinary use.
These products are sold throughout the Las Vegas metropolitan area at various retail locations, from suburban shopping centers in Summerlin and Henderson to commercial districts near the Strip. Families buying these items for their children often remain unaware that the products rupture easily and may contain substances capable of causing harm.
Documented Harm from Defective Fidget Toys
Families nationwide have chronicled injuries resulting from squishy fidget toy failures during normal use. Customer feedback consistently describes products that “ruptured within an hour” or “failed within two hours of use.” Product rupture causes the adhesive gel interior to contact children’s skin directly.
Documented harm includes inflamed and irritated skin, tissue peeling, and injuries matching chemical burn patterns. The high acidity of gel in certain products can trigger these reactions, particularly when children cannot immediately remove the substance after rupture.
The TikTok Microwave Danger
The hazard extends beyond acidic gel exposure. Consumer Reports analysis documented severe burn potential when users attempt viral social media trends promoting microwave heating to soften these toys. Testing showed certain products exploded within 15 seconds of microwave exposure, achieving temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Fahrenheit, sufficient to cause immediate thermal burns.
Impact on Las Vegas Families
For Las Vegas children experiencing skin trauma from these products, physical injury may come with pain, permanent scarring, and required medical intervention. Parents who acquired these items believing them to be safe therapeutic tools now confront unanticipated medical costs and emotional distress from witnessing their child harmed by a product that should have met basic safety standards.
Nevada Product Liability Law and Defective Toys
Under Nevada law, manufacturers and sellers of consumer products have a legal duty to ensure their products are reasonably safe for their intended use. When a product causes injury due to a defect or dangerous condition, injured parties may pursue product liability claims to recover damages.
Types of Product Defects in Nevada
Nevada recognizes three primary types of product defects. A manufacturing defect occurs when a product deviates from its intended design and becomes dangerous. A design defect exists when a product’s inherent design creates unreasonable risks, even when manufactured correctly. A failure to warn involves inadequate instructions or warnings about known dangers associated with the product.
In cases involving squishy fidget toys that break easily and contain acidic gel, multiple defect theories may apply. If the toys break far more easily than consumers would reasonably expect given their intended use by children, that suggests a design or manufacturing defect. If manufacturers know the gel inside has highly acidic pH levels that can burn skin but fail to warn consumers, that constitutes a failure to warn.
The Disclosure Gap
Nevada’s product liability framework also addresses the transparency consumers need to make informed choices. The Consumer Reports investigation noted that companies don’t have to list the ingredients of what’s inside squishy toys. This lack of required disclosure means parents cannot evaluate risks before purchasing products for their children.
Who May Bear Responsibility for Fidget Toy Injuries
When defective products injure Nevada children, multiple parties in the distribution chain may be held accountable under product liability law. Manufacturers who design and produce toys have primary responsibility for ensuring their products are safe for children’s use and that any known risks are clearly communicated to consumers.
The Manufacturer’s Response
Schylling, which produces the Nee-Doh product line identified in the Consumer Reports study, disputed the pH testing methodology and indicated that the internal gel consists of polyvinyl alcohol, which the company characterizes as dermatologically safe. The company reported that across 100 million units sold, only four incident reports reached the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Nevertheless, documented incidents and injury reports prompt questions regarding warning adequacy and whether the product design creates unacceptable hazards. When manufacturers receive incident information, regardless of the ratio to total sales volume, they bear enhanced obligations to examine safety issues and implement corrective measures when necessary.
Retailer Responsibilities
Retailers who sell defective products in Nevada may also face liability, particularly if they continue selling products after becoming aware of safety issues or incident reports. Las Vegas stores selling squishy fidget toys have responsibilities to ensure the products they offer to consumers meet basic safety standards.
Establishing Liability
When determining liability in product cases, Nevada courts examine whether the product was being used as intended, whether warnings were adequate, and whether the manufacturer or seller knew or should have known about the danger. The widespread reports of these toys breaking during normal play by children, the exact population for whom they’re marketed, supports claims that the products fail to meet reasonable safety expectations.
Understanding Chemical Burns and Children’s Vulnerability
Chemical burns develop when acidic or alkaline materials contact skin and damage tissue. Unlike heat-related burns, chemical burns may continue causing tissue damage until the offending substance is fully eliminated from the skin. Children possess thinner, more delicate skin than adults, creating heightened susceptibility to chemical injuries.
When a squishy toy ruptures and deposits acidic gel on a child’s skin, prompt and thorough washing becomes essential to minimize injury severity. However, children may fail to recognize the hazard immediately or lack knowledge about appropriate response. The gel’s adhesive properties can complicate complete removal, extending skin contact duration and worsening injury outcomes.
For Las Vegas families, these injuries translate to emergency department visits, ongoing care with pediatric specialists or dermatologists, and potentially extended treatment if scarring develops. Medical costs, physical suffering, and psychological effects on children harmed by a toy they considered safe all constitute recoverable damages in product liability actions.
Protecting Your Family’s Rights After a Defective Product Injury
Las Vegas parents who have purchased squishy fidget toys for their children deserve products that are safe for their intended use. When manufacturers cut corners on safety testing, use materials that pose chemical burn risks, or fail to warn about known dangers, they prioritize profits over children’s wellbeing.
George Bochanis Injury Law Offices has the experience and resources to investigate defective product claims, identify all potentially liable parties, and pursue maximum compensation for your child’s injuries. Manufacturers and retailers must be held accountable when they put dangerous products into the hands of Nevada families.
Don’t let your child’s suffering go unanswered. If a defective toy has injured your child, call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at 702-388-2005 today.
