A disturbing new social media trend has transformed an innocent children's toy into a dangerous hazard, leaving a young boy with severe facial burns and prompting urgent warnings from medical professionals. The viral challenge, which encourages children to microwave sensory toys known as Needoh cubes, has already resulted in multiple hospitalizations across the Chicago area, with doctors reporting devastating injuries that could have lifelong consequences.
The incident that brought this alarming trend to light occurred in Plainfield, where 9-year-old Caleb Chabolla suffered second-degree burns across half his face and both hands after following instructions he discovered on TikTok. His mother, Whitney Grubb, recounts the morning that changed their lives forever. "I heard him scream and I saw him take off running towards one of our bathrooms and that stuff had popped on his face," she said, describing the moment the superheated gel toy exploded from the microwave.
The explosion happened instantaneously when Caleb opened the microwave door, spraying scalding hot gelatinous material directly onto his skin. The viscous substance clung to his face, causing immediate and severe damage. By the time they arrived at Loyola Medicine's emergency department, the swelling had become so pronounced that his eye had completely shut, raising concerns about potential vision loss.
Medical experts at Loyola's burn center have treated four patients for Needoh cube-related injuries in just the past two months, indicating this is not an isolated incident. Kelly McElligott, a specialist at the facility, explained the unique dangers these heated toys pose. "Because it's so viscous, it sticks, and it stays hot longer, it's going to cause a more significant burn," she noted. Unlike hot water that runs off skin quickly, the gel material adheres to the body, prolonging exposure and intensifying tissue damage.
The treatment process for such burns is both painful and extensive. Upon arrival, medical staff immediately began washing the affected areas to remove the sticky substance, then carefully debrided dead skin tissue before applying specialized burn ointments. In Caleb's case, the medical team also consulted ophthalmologists to assess potential eye damage. Fortunately, his vision remained unimpaired, though the psychological trauma and physical recovery continue to challenge the young patient.
The TikTok trend specifically targets children by promising to restore the toy's squishy texture. Needoh cubes, manufactured by Schylling, are designed as stress-relief sensory toys filled with a gelatinous material that naturally firms up over time. The viral videos circulating on social media platforms demonstrate microwaving the cubes for short intervals to make them more pliable, completely ignoring the catastrophic risks involved. Children discuss the technique at school, sharing the dangerous hack without understanding the science behind pressure buildup and rapid heating in sealed containers.
What makes this trend particularly insidious is how it preys on children's natural curiosity and trust in peer-shared content. Caleb admitted he learned about the technique through conversations with friends at school, demonstrating how offline discussions amplify online dangers. The challenge appears harmless on screen—just a few seconds in the microwave to make a toy more fun—but the reality involves superheated liquid expanding rapidly in a sealed environment, creating a pressure bomb ready to detonate the moment the door opens.
The product itself carries clear warning labels explicitly stating the cubes should not be heated in any manner. However, these warnings go unheeded when viral fame and peer pressure enter the equation. Manufacturers design these toys for tactile play at room temperature, never anticipating they would become subjects of dangerous social media experiments. The material composition, while safe for its intended purpose, becomes hazardous when subjected to microwave radiation, which heats the gel unevenly and creates dangerous hot spots.
Other victims of this trend include a child who heated a Needoh cube and pressed her finger through the softened surface, resulting in deep thermal burns. The consistency of the material creates a false sense of safety—children believe they can touch it immediately, not realizing the interior temperature can exceed boiling point while the exterior feels merely warm. This delayed heat transfer mechanism makes the burns particularly deceptive and severe.
Medical professionals emphasize that these injuries are completely preventable through education and supervision. "Do not heat these up in any way, shape, or form. Whether it's the microwave, hot water, those things can really be dangerous," McElligott warned. The burn specialist stressed that any sealed, gel-filled object poses similar risks when heated, and parents should treat all sensory toys with caution.
Parental vigilance remains the most effective defense against such trends. Whitney Grubb now advocates for open conversations between parents and children about online safety and critical thinking. "Just talk with your kids, make sure they understand the safety of the things," she urged. Her message resonates with healthcare providers who see the devastating consequences of viral challenges regularly. The key is establishing trust where children feel comfortable discussing what they see online before attempting dangerous activities.
The psychological impact on Caleb extends beyond physical pain. Returning to school with visible facial injuries presents social challenges, and the trauma of the explosion continues to cause anxiety. His follow-up appointments at the burn clinic will monitor both healing and scar development, with potential for long-term dermatological treatment. While he avoided skin grafts—a testament to quick medical intervention—the risk of permanent scarring remains significant.
CBS Chicago attempted to contact Schylling, the manufacturer of Needoh cubes, for comment on the incidents and potential safety measures, but received no response. This silence raises questions about corporate responsibility in addressing misuse of products and whether additional safety warnings or design modifications could prevent future injuries. Consumer safety advocates argue that companies must proactively monitor social media for dangerous trends involving their products and respond with public awareness campaigns.
The broader implications of this trend highlight a growing public health concern: the intersection of social media virality and child safety. Platforms like TikTok have become unregulated playgrounds where dangerous challenges spread faster than traditional safety warnings can counteract. Unlike controlled product testing environments, social media creates unpredictable misuse scenarios that manufacturers never anticipated during design phases.
Experts recommend several proactive steps for families. First, parents should regularly monitor trending content on platforms their children use, not to spy but to understand potential risks. Second, establish clear household rules about replicating any online content involving heat, chemicals, or modifications to physical objects. Third, teach children to question the safety of viral challenges and report concerning content to adults immediately.
Schools also bear responsibility in addressing these issues. Health education curricula must evolve to include digital literacy and critical evaluation of social media content. When children discuss dangerous trends like microwaving toys, teachers and counselors should have protocols to intervene and inform parents before incidents occur.
As Caleb prepares to return to school and continues his recovery, his story serves as a powerful cautionary tale. The combination of an innocent toy, a few seconds in a microwave, and a viral video created a perfect storm of preventable tragedy. His experience underscores that in the digital age, parental guidance must extend beyond physical spaces into the virtual world where children increasingly learn and explore.
The medical community continues to document cases and push for greater awareness, but prevention ultimately depends on breaking the chain of viral transmission. Every parent who discusses this incident with their child, every school that addresses it in assemblies, and every platform that removes dangerous content contributes to preventing the next burn victim. Until then, Needoh cubes and similar products will remain potential hazards in homes where social media influence outweighs safety warnings.