UK authorities and safety organizations are urging parents to talk to their children about a viral microwave trend that left two Bristol girls with facial injuries
A 10-year-old from the UK, Bella, is facing the possibility of permanent scarring after she and a friend microwaved a squishy toy as part of a viral TikTok challenge, sustaining serious facial burns that prompted urgent warnings from safety authorities across the UK.
Bella’s mother, Charlotte, 42, from Bristol, says Bella was at a friend’s house when the two girls decided to try a trend they had seen circulating on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
The challenge involves placing squishy toys in a microwave, with videos framing heat as a way to make them more elastic and stretchy.
What the children did not anticipate was how dangerously hot the toy had become on the inside. Charlotte told BBC, “Because of the silicone outer layer, they couldn’t feel how hot it was inside, so her friend squeezed it, which is when it burst on to both of them.”
The Injuries Were Severe Enough To Require Hospitalization
Charlotte told BBC, “I could see straight away her face was bright red, it looked like she’d been whacked in the face, and I could see the scald mark, and there was skin missing and blisters.”
The toy was unbranded and purchased from a local shop, meaning it lacked the safety warnings that accompany regulated products. As the BBC reported, Bella had to be hospitalized after the squishy toy stunt left her with traumatizing burns.
After Charlotte posted a warning on Facebook, another Bristol mother named Gemma Wells responded to say her child had suffered a serious facial scald from the same type of challenge. A photograph shared with the response showed a blistering wound on the child’s cheek. Wells described it on Facebook as “one of the scariest things ever” and said the experience was traumatizing for her family.
Why Squishy Toys Are So Dangerous In A Microwave
The silicone or foam outer shell of a squishy toy does not conduct heat the way metal or ceramic does, so the outside can feel relatively cool while the interior reaches scalding temperatures.
When a child squeezes the toy after microwaving it, the trapped heat is released instantly and forcefully onto the skin, often the hands and face. Charlotte told BBC that after other parents alerted her to the trend, she searched for it herself and found videos of children and adults demonstrating how to microwave squishy toys, with the content framed as entertaining and harmless.
What Safety Authorities Are Saying
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has responded directly to the incident. RoSPA policy officer Rhiain Reynolds told AOL that “misuse of household appliances can have devastating consequences,” adding, “RoSPA urges parents and carers to talk to children about the dangers of copying online trends and to reinforce that microwaves are not toys.”
TikTok confirmed to the BBC that content promoting dangerous behavior that violates community guidelines will be removed, though viral challenges often reach millions of young viewers before any removal takes place.
If your child sustains a burn, it’s advisable to call 911 when you are unsure of the severity. For burns that are very large, very deep, or affect the face, genitals, or bottom, go directly to the nearest emergency department. Cool running water for at least 20 minutes is the recommended first response. Never apply butter, toothpaste, or ice.
The Bigger Conversation About Children And Social Media
Charlotte has been vocal about wanting school leaders and parents nationwide to be made aware of the trend. She also supports the UK government’s current consultation on a potential outright ban on children’s use of social media. Charlotte told the BBC, “I think it’s a good idea. There are a lot of apps that look child-friendly, but they can actually be dangerous for children. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”
This incident fits a broader pattern of viral challenges that have put children at risk. Parents looking to build stronger digital safety habits at home may also want to review how experts advise families to think critically about what children share and consume online, since those conversations are the first line of defense.
What makes this story particularly alarming is how ordinary the setup was: two children at a friend’s house, a common kitchen appliance, and a toy sold in neighborhood shops. No single element signals danger on its own, which is exactly why the combination caught these families off guard.
If your child uses TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube, now is the moment to have a direct conversation about why copying challenges seen online can cause real, lasting harm, even when the videos make it look completely safe.
