A nine-year-old Illinois boy is recovering from second-degree burns after a social media trend inspired him to microwave a NeeDoh sensory toy, causing it to explode and cover his face and hands with hot gel. The incident, which happened in late January, has prompted urgent warnings from doctors and the boy’s family about the dangers of imitating viral challenges.
Caleb Chabolla, a fourth-grader, was injured when he followed a trend that encourages microwaving NeeDoh Cubes—a popular stress-relief toy—to make them softer. Caleb’s mother, Whitney Grubb, told WLS, “He was crying and just yelling, ‘It burns, it burns.’” She described the aftermath: “The right side of his face was kind of melting off, basically.”
After the toy exploded, Caleb was rushed to a local emergency room and then transferred to Loyola University Medical Center’s Burn Center in Maywood, Illinois. Hospital staff confirmed this is the fourth case they have seen this year related to microwaving NeeDoh Cubes. “These trends can be extremely dangerous for young people who are less likely to consider or unable to understand the serious consequences,” said Paula Petersen, a nurse at the center.
Grubb said her son got the idea not directly from TikTok, but from a friend who had tried the trend without getting hurt. However, videos of the challenge are circulating online. Grubb explained, “My main goal with this is just to get the warning out about the product and the challenge… This is what can happen if you try some of these silly things.”
Despite the burns being close to Caleb’s eye, doctors say his vision will not be affected, and he is expected to make a full recovery. Caleb has since returned to school and wants others to know: “Just think before you act.”
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