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In a concerning incident that highlights the dangers of viral social media trends, a 9-year-old Illinois boy is recovering from second-degree burns after a popular sensory toy exploded in his face.
Caleb Chabolla, a fourth-grader, was injured in late February after heating a NeeDoh toy in his microwave. After removing the heated toy, described by manufacturers as a “gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough filled groovy glob,” Chabolla began squeezing it when it suddenly burst, spraying scalding gel across his face and hands.
“I heard him screaming loudly and saw him take off running toward the bathroom, and he just kept yelling, ‘it burns, it burns,'” Whitney Grubb, Chabolla’s mother, recounted. She discovered the right side of her son’s face covered with thick gel, revealing bright red, burned skin underneath.
When initial attempts to wash off the substance proved too painful, Grubb rushed her son to the emergency room. Medical staff later transferred Chabolla by ambulance to the Loyola Burn Center, where he stayed overnight. Doctors performed debridement – a procedure that removes dead, damaged, or infected skin from burn wounds – and consulted ophthalmologists when his eye swelled completely shut.
Alarmingly, medical professionals at the burn center informed Grubb that Chabolla wasn’t the first case they’d seen. They reported treating four other children with similar injuries from heated NeeDoh toys, all stemming from a viral TikTok trend circulating among school-aged children.
“Caleb had heard about it through word of mouth through friends at school,” Grubb explained, highlighting how quickly dangerous challenges can spread through peer networks even without direct social media exposure.
After two weeks of recovery and daily wound cleanings, Chabolla was finally cleared to return to school this week. “His face is looking a lot better,” his mother said. “There are a few spots that are still healing, but the majority of his face is pretty healed over.” His ongoing care requires vitamin E lotion application and diligent use of sunscreen to protect the healing skin from further damage.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of children being injured through dangerous social media trends. Last year, a Wisconsin family lost their 10-month-old daughter after she swallowed a water bead, another popular sensory toy that can expand dramatically when ingested, causing potentially fatal intestinal blockages.
The NeeDoh incident underscores the challenges parents face in monitoring children’s activities in an era where viral challenges spread rapidly through both digital and word-of-mouth channels. These sensory toys, which have become increasingly popular for their tactile stimulation benefits, are generally safe when used as directed but can become hazardous when misused.
“It’s hard to micromanage every little thing your kid does, and unfortunately, kids are going to experiment and try things — they don’t know the risks of these kinds of things, and they don’t know how hot things can get in a short amount of time,” Grubb cautioned.
Child safety advocates recommend that parents maintain open communication with children about potential dangers, clearly explain why certain viral trends are unsafe, and regularly discuss content they might encounter through friends, even if they don’t have direct access to social media platforms.
For manufacturers of children’s toys, incidents like these raise questions about whether additional warning labels specifically addressing viral misuses might be necessary, particularly for products that could pose thermal or chemical hazards when heated.
As Chabolla continues his recovery, his mother hopes sharing their experience will alert other families to this dangerous trend and prevent similar injuries. “For the most part, Caleb is just happy to be back at school to see his friends, so he’s in better spirits now,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to both the manufacturer of NeeDoh and the Loyola Burn Center for comment but had not received responses at the time of publication.
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14 Comments
Wow, this is a really scary situation. I’m glad the boy is recovering, but it’s a stark reminder that we need to be extremely careful about what our kids are doing online, even with seemingly harmless toys and challenges.
This is a very concerning situation. I’m glad the doctors are warning the public, as these viral challenges can have devastating real-world consequences, especially for vulnerable young users. Parents need to stay vigilant.
Microwaving toys is an extremely dangerous activity that can lead to serious injuries. I’m glad the young boy is recovering, but this is a stark reminder that we need to be more careful about what our kids are doing, especially with popular online crazes.
This is a concerning incident that highlights the risks of blindly following viral social media trends. Parents should be extra vigilant about monitoring their children’s online activities and educating them on the potential dangers.
This is a tragic yet important reminder that we can’t blindly trust online trends, even if they seem innocent. I hope the family receives the support they need during the boy’s recovery, and that this incident sparks wider awareness of these risks.
This is a tragic incident, but I appreciate the doctors taking the time to warn the public about the risks of these dangerous trends. Hopefully it will encourage parents to have open conversations with their kids about online safety.
While these sensory toys may seem harmless, they can clearly be misused in ways that put children at risk. Manufacturers and social media platforms need to do more to educate users and prevent dangerous trends from spreading.
Absolutely. There needs to be better oversight and regulation to ensure these products are safe for their intended use, especially when they become popular with young audiences.
Burn injuries can be incredibly painful and have long-lasting effects. I’m glad the boy is receiving the medical care he needs, and I hope this incident prompts a wider discussion about the dangers of viral social media challenges.
It’s heartbreaking to hear about this young boy’s injuries. I hope he makes a full recovery, and that this serves as a wake-up call for parents and social media platforms to be more proactive in preventing these kinds of dangerous trends.
Burn injuries can be incredibly painful and have lasting effects. I hope the boy makes a full recovery and that this incident serves as a wake-up call to others about the risks of these viral challenges. Safety should always come first.
This is a heartbreaking story, but an important one. It’s crucial that parents stay vigilant about monitoring their children’s online activities and educating them on the potential dangers of viral trends.
The doctor’s warning is well-justified. I’m glad the boy is recovering, but this serves as a sobering example of how social media challenges can have devastating real-world consequences, especially for vulnerable young users.
Putting toys in the microwave is never a good idea, and this case shows just how dangerous it can be. I hope the family is able to raise awareness and prevent similar incidents in the future.