A toy bought for a 4-year-old grandson because it looked cute quickly turned into a frightening experience for one family.
Virginia and Darby said their grandson was playing with a squishy dumpling toy when it suddenly burst open.
"He started screaming, saying it burned," Virginia said.
The gel-like substance inside the toy got everywhere.
"It was all over the place. The dumpling just burst, and it was in his nose, his mouth," she said.
Squishy toys come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and have become popular with children and adults alike. Social media is filled with videos of people showing off their collections and favorite finds.
But other videos are attracting attention for a different reason.
In some posts, parents claim their children suffered reactions after contact with the toys.
Georgia Poison Center Executive Director Gaylord Lopez said his office has received calls from concerned parents.
"We've had some with a few symptoms like nausea, vomiting, irritation of the skin," Lopez said.
Lopez said many knockoff or non-name-brand versions may contain dangerous chemicals.
"The problem with these toys is that they contain really toxic chemicals," he said.
Another concern involves a social media challenge that encourages people to freeze and microwave squishy toys.
"It'll pop and then release very hot, sticky gel, which then adheres to the skin and causes second- or third-degree burns," Lopez warned.
Laura Abbert, a nurse practitioner at Shriners Children's Hospital, said the hospital has treated children injured by the toys.
"One child took it out of the microwave, it exploded, and she had second-degree burns all over her face, her neck, and her wrist and hands," Abbert said.
Health experts urge parents to be cautious with squishy toys and to avoid social media challenges that involve heating or freezing them.
Now, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on the toys.