• UK safety expert Craig Delahaye shared his verdicts
• READ MORE: Experts issue urgent warning over trendy 'squishy dumpling' toys - as tests reveal some versions contain hazardous chemicals
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They seem cute, squishy, and entirely harmless - but experts are issuing warnings about popular children's toys which can leave your kids at risk of burns, choking and skin irritation.

Some even contain carcinogens, and pose deadly hazards, despite often being widely available for cheap online, and even touted on social media platforms.

'There are more toys on the market than ever before, but gone are the days of handmade Hamley's quality,' said Craig Delahaye, Associate Director of Legal Operations at the National Accident Helpline.

'Instead, cheap slop has flooded the shelves, but some of it is so bad, that it could be dangerous.'

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he has highlighted the products to avoid - many of which are also facing product recalls.

If your little one has one of the viral squeezy dumpling toys, he stressed making sure it comes from a trusted retailer, and isn't one of the fake imitations, which have been found to contain benzene.

Elsewhere, while your children may beg for a popular sand kit, be wary - as a recent investigation found asbestos in such products.

Another worrying trend has also seen kids microwaving 'gel' toys on social media - which has resulted in multiple hospitalisations.

Squeezy Dumpling toys

It comes after The Office for Product Safety and Standards issued an urgent national recall on TikTok over fake versions of the toys, sold in a plastic basket tray containing a squishy, colourful dumpling, branding them a 'severe chemical risk'. Stock image used

They might look innocent enough, but Craig issued a stark warning against Squeezy Dumpling toys.

He said: 'Cute, cosy, and… deadly? These may seem innocuous but, unless bought from a reputable supplier, likely contain harsh chemical goo which will cause irritation when they inevitably burst.'

It comes after The Office for Product Safety and Standards issued an urgent national recall on TikTok over fake versions of the toys, sold in a plastic basket tray containing a squishy, colourful dumpling, branding them a 'severe chemical risk'.

It found an imitation version of the product contained an excess concentration of the toxic chemical benzene, which can cause cancer.

Inhaling the chemical can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, while exposure to large amounts may cause skin irritation and a burning sensation throughout the digestive tract.

Parents have been warned to keep the toys out of reach of children and to stop using them.

The toys have become this year's playground craze as TikTok videos showing them being unboxed, squeezed and stretched have gone viral.

The squishy toys are also collectable – as you don't know what colour dumpling you will receive before buying one.

Like other viral toys, Mystery Squishy Dumplings are becoming increasingly difficult to track down, with retailers selling out within hours of restocking.

As a result, fake versions are beginning to appear – many of which don't meet UK regulations.

The product has been recalled by Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd, a distributor based in Cardiff.

There are no batch numbers or product identifiers on the product or packaging, making it difficult to know if the toy is affected.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council's Trading Standards Officer, previously said: 'These products are clearly attractive to children because they are being driven by online trends, but that does not mean they are safe.

'When a toy gives off a strong chemical smell and is missing basic safety information, that should ring alarm bells for parents and retailers alike. Our main concern is the risk posed to children if unsafe items end up in homes, school bags or play areas.'

Sand kits

This sand art tray sold on Alibaba, Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop was found to contain asbestos

Children love recreating that beach feeling at home with sand kits, but according to the expert, they're not worth the risk after an investigation found asbestos in sand kits sold online and in Asda.

'The sandpit has been a childhood staple for hundreds of years, but, sadly, asbestos has recently been introduced to the mix,' Craig said.

'It goes without saying that children should not be playing with asbestos and so, for a safe sandy summer buy real sand from the garden centre and put the toy together yourself.'

Earlier this year, experts from Which? discovered two products sold on popular online marketplaces contain the harmful substance.

One toy, marketed as a 'Montessori sand art tray', was being sold on Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop.

The kit is designed for hands-on learning to support fine motor skills by encouraging children to draw in the sand.

However, testing revealed that the sand in the kit contained tremolite asbestos - a banned substance.

Researchers also found tremolite asbestos in the 'GL Style Sand Bottle Art Heart or Stars' set purchased from Asda.

What appeared to be the same kit was also listed for sale on eBay from three private sellers.

Tremolite asbestos is an incredibly harmful, naturally occurring mineral that can become airborne and cause severe lung diseases if inhaled, even at low levels of exposure.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified all forms of asbestos as carcinogenic to humans.

Products containing asbestos in any quantity, including trace amounts, are prohibited for sale in the UK.

It is believed the affected toys contain sand sourced from specific quarries in China, where naturally occurring asbestos is present.

A spokesman for Amazon said it is in the process of removing all products in this category while it investigates further, while Asda said it issued a full product recall after being made aware of the findings.

A representative for eBay said it removed the items identified in the investigation and is conducting further sweeps to identify similar listings, while TikTok said the product identified had already been removed from its shop.

Microwave 'gel' toys

Violet Zerbst was squeezing a cube-shaped Needoh toy she had heated in the microwave for just 30 seconds when it exploded and its gel-like contents burst across her face, leaving her burnt and badly blistered

Last month, a young Queensland schoolgirl suffered horrific burns to her face after a dangerous social media trend promoted placing a viral squishy toy in a microwave to soften it.

Violet Zerbst was squeezing a cube-shaped Needoh toy she had heated in the microwave for just 30 seconds when it exploded and its gel-like contents burst across her face, leaving her burnt and badly blistered.

The 10-year-old said her plan was to heat the stress-relieving toy to make it softer and she didn't realise there was a danger it could become super hot and unstable.

'If it (the toy) is really hard, you think... warm it up,' she told 7News.

'So I went to the microwave and I put it in and I was just waiting... and then I got it and I was just squishing it.

'The liquid was like at the bottom and then it went into a sort of ball and it burst onto my face.'

Violet's father Jody Zerbst said 'it literally just exploded', with the young girl adding she had been in 'a lot of pain' and could 'feel my skin coming off'.

Similar incidents involving the toys have happened overseas, notably in the US and UK.

Craig warned that the trend - and toys - are 'toxic' and must be avoided.

'What better idea than to put the aforementioned toxic goo in the microwave, so that it becomes superheated?' he said.

'Children playing with cooking devices is a bad idea in the first place, even more so when their "recipe" consists of cheap plastic and molten chemicals.

'Many councils have already issued warnings over this, and so this category of toy is best avoided altogether.'

Medical experts have also issued warnings of the dangers of a trend for heating ‘squishy’ toys in the microwave after several children suffered serious burns.

The Royal Hospital for Children (RHC) in Glasgow has treated six youngsters with injuries linked to the trend in the past eight months, with some needing surgery including skin grafts.

Videos circulating online show the toys, which are soft and easy to squeeze, being heated to make them even softer.

However, experts warn this causes pressure to build inside the squishy, increasing the risk it may explode and release the hot gel inside that can stick to the skin and cause severe burns.

One of those injured was eight-year-old Joseph Erskine, from Clackmannanshire, who needed weeks of treatment and a skin graft after a toy burst across his chest and hand in May.

His mother Stephanie Ewing said: ‘My husband and I were home. We were sitting in the living room next door when Joseph came in holding a towel to his face.

‘He had already wiped off the burning gel which had also taken off his skin. He was saying that his squishy burnt him and we initially thought he meant a chemical burn. Then he told us that he had put it in the microwave.

‘We were shocked as it had never crossed our minds that he would do that with a toy. He has never used the microwave before.

‘One of us had heated something earlier and so the clock was already set at 40 seconds. Joseph just hit start.

‘It was that quick and easy for him.’

She said Joseph had seen the trend online and she urged parents to chat about it with their children and discourage them from doing something similar.

Ms Ewing added: ‘Joseph’s burn wouldn’t heal on its own and required a graft, where skin was taken from his thigh and applied to his chest.

‘He is normally such an active and sporty child with six clubs per week, but all of that is on hold until he heals.’

Her son must now avoid direct sunlight to the graft area for two years, which she said will be ‘tricky over the summer months’.

Another young patient, 11-year-old Scarlet Rowe, from Irvine, in Ayrshire, was treated for burns to her face and eyelid after a similar incident last month soon after she received a squishy toy.

Her mother Gina said: ‘We didn’t realise what had happened at first, it just looked like slime on her face. It was only after a few minutes we realised it had been heated and was burning her skin.

‘The swelling was so bad that we weren’t sure what the outcome would be.

‘Thankfully, no graft was required but it is so close to her eye that this could have been a lot worse.

‘These toys are very popular and easy to buy, but we had no idea about the risks. We had only bought them that day.’

Burns specialists said injuries caused by heated squishy toys can be particularly severe because the gel inside can remain extremely hot and get stuck to the skin, prolonging the burn.

Sharon Ramsay, a burns nurse at the RHC, said: ‘Unfortunately, we are seeing a growing number of children with preventable injuries linked to this trend.

‘When these toys are heated, the contents can explode and stick to the skin, causing deep burns.

‘These injuries can be very serious and may require long-term treatment, including surgery and rehabilitation.

‘In some cases, children are left with permanent scarring. We strongly urge parents and carers to speak to their children about the risks.’

Water bead toys

The beads are made from materials that absorb water. This makes them expand dramatically. However, if a child accidentally swallows them, they absorb water inside the body and expand, creating potentially fatal blockages. Stock image used

They might seem like harmless fun, but water beads can be incredibly dangerous - and even lead to death.

'Tragically, children have died from playing with toys such as the infamous Orbeez, which pose a major choking hazard,' Craig said.

'Not only are they small, but they look like sweets and so are very tempting for children to eat.'

Dr Josh Trebach, an emergency medicine physician in Iowa, America, previously explained that the small, absorbent balls have gained popularity as a children's bath toy.

But despite appearances, the beads can become deadly obstructions by ballooning to four times their size.

Dr Trebach said: 'Friendly reminder that water beads (a popular kid's toy) can swell up to over 400 per cent their original size. If kids eat these, they can suffer gastrointestinal obstructions.'

The beads are made from materials that absorb water. This makes them expand dramatically. However, if a child accidentally swallows them, they absorb water inside the body and expand, creating potentially fatal blockages.

The warning comes as several parents have sued makers of these toys after their children have been seriously injured or died.

Water beads are typically used for sensory play and developing fine motor skills. They are also used as fluid absorbers in baby diapers, incontinence garments, and menstrual pads.

The National Poison Control Centre in America previously said swallowing water beads can lead them to absorb fluid, which allows them to expand in the intestinal tract and cause life-threatening blockages.

In March, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and toy company Buffalo Games recalled more than 50,000 'Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits' sold at Target after one infant was injured and another died.

Certain types of infant teething and pull-string toys

Sili Factory Pull String Teething Toys were pulled from shelves this summer because, as per the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the 'silicone strings are smaller and longer than permitted'

Shops tout countless 'teething' toys aimed at relieving toddlers' discomfort - but experts warn that some of these, particularly long and stringy variants, can be choking or strangulation hazards.

'Baby toys need to be some of the most rigorously tested on the market, and yet unlicensed online sellers are peddling cheap, dangerous knockoffs which could end up restricting your baby's ability to breathe,' said Craig.

'As a rule of thumb: no strings or items which could wrap around a little neck or limbs.'

They're available all over the world, but have faced recent recalls in the US.

Sili Factory Pull String Teething Toys were pulled from shelves this summer because, as per the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the 'silicone strings are smaller and longer than permitted'.

'The strings can reach the back of children's throat and become lodged, posing a serious risk of respiratory distress and deadly choking hazard.'

Toddler Activity Cubes

In 2022, in the UK there was a product recall on an 'Infant Development Educational Box' which was made in China and sold across retailers like AliExpress

They're aimed at educating children about shapes, sounds and colours - but have raised watchdogs' concerns in recent years.

In 2022, in the UK there was a product recall on an 'Infant Development Educational Box' which was made in China and sold across retailers like AliExpress.

'The product presents a risk of choking as small parts can be easily detached or produced when the product is used, particularly near water or when under tension,' the Office for Product Safety and Standard said at the time.

'A young child may place the small part in their mouth and the parents/carers may not notice in time, with the small part able to block a child's airways.

'The product also requires improvements to labelling. The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.'

Elsewhere, in the US, this year a wooden toy cube also faced recalls.

Some 70 wooden activity cubes, sold online through Amazon for less than $30, were pulled.

They featured a popular design which included screws that can be detached, a xylophone, and loops to pull attachments through.

'The recalled toys violate the small parts ban because the toys are intended for children under three and the toys' xylophone screws and clock hands can detach,' the Commission's report read.

'In addition, the toys violate the mandatory safety standard for children's toys because the mallets have spherical ends, posing a choking hazard.'

Even popular board games like Monopoly can pose a risk when young children are around, experts warned.

'There may be hidden dangers. Small dice, counters, and characters all pose a choking hazard,' said Craig.

'There is also the risk of injury if these are dropped onto the floor and then stood on or crawled over.'

'Parents should be careful to closely supervise all board game sessions and to keep them out of reach when not in use'

Battery-powered and electronic toys

In 2024, the UK saw recalls of an electric mini Range Rover for kids, supplied by Hyper Toy Company Ltd

There is a whole world of battery-powered child toys and accessories out there, featuring everything from light-up headbands to racecars.

And while these can be 'fine', Craig said, having a reputable supplier is the key.

'Lights, noise, and movement can make playtime much more engaging, but fire is not welcome in the playroom,' he continued. 'Always check for a fire safety and electrical certificate before bringing electronic toys into the home.'

In 2024, the UK saw recalls of an electric mini Range Rover for kids, supplied by Hyper Toy Company Ltd.

'A potential safety concern has been identified, where a number of products have been produced without a fuse,' an Argos report said.

'There is a chance this could result in a short circuit of the wiring. In some cases, this could result in wires melting producing smoke and possibly a fire.'

Elsewhere in America, 80,000 LED toys and shot glasses were recalled in May - after a battery hazard was discovered.

It included a toy light-up headband, bird toys which light-up and chirp and 'electronic pet cages'.

'The recalled children’s toys violate the mandatory standard for toys because they contain button cell batteries and the compartments that hold the batteries can be easily accessed by children, posing a deadly ingestion hazard to children,' the report said.

'When button cell and coin batteries are swallowed, the ingested batteries can cause serious injuries, internal chemical burns and death.'

Baby neck floats

The floats are designed to be worn around a child's neck, where the infant's head is supported by the float while the body remains suspended in the water

Teaching your child to swim is a priority for many parents, but Craig warned that baby neck floats should be avoided at all costs.

The floats are designed to be worn around a child's neck, where the infant's head is supported by the float while the body remains suspended in the water.

He explained: 'More recently, these have been sold via AI-generated adverts on TikTok, and even from those videos, the dangers are clear.

'Dangling a baby via their neck in a swimming pool is a very poor decision. Drownings and serious spinal injuries have been recorded from doing so – only ever use accredited pool aids in a supervised, professional setting.'

The UK government has previously recalled the floats, stating that using a neck float increases the risk of drowning.

'These products present a risk of drowning as they may place inappropriate pressure on the infant's neck and may restrict normal movement or airway positioning.

'They may also increase the risk of the infant slipping through, becoming trapped, overturning, or being left in an unsafe floating position, potentially resulting in neck injury, asphyxiation, drowning, or other serious harm.'