Mother of Chicago 9-year-old hospitalised following Needoh Cube trend had stark warning to others

A heartbroken mother is warning fellow parents about a dangerous online trend that she says left her son with second-degree facial burns.

Whitney Grubb's nine-year-old son Caleb Chabolla had been playing with his Needoh Nice Cube - a popular sensory squishy toy filled with gelatinous material - when a perilous idea sprang to mind.

In the days prior, Chicago-born Caleb had observed a controversial social media trend, whereby children place their Needoh cubes in the microwave to heat up the liquid substance inside, given that they can become firm over time.

As has been the case in hundreds of other gory instances, however, when Caleb went to open the microwave and squeeze his newly-heated plaything, the cube exploded, drenching the child in piping hot liquid.

Caleb Chabolla, 9, was left with second-degree burns when one toy exploded in his face (CBS Chicago)

"Him and a friend, through conversation, were talking about it at school, and then he, i guess, just got the idea to try it," Whitney told CBS News. "I heard him scream and I saw him take off running towards one of our bathrooms and that stuff had popped on his face."

Caleb was rushed to the hospital, where he was treated for severe burns along one side of his face and his hands.

"By the time, you know, we were settled in at Loyola [Hospital], his eye was completely swollen shut, so I was immediately worried about his eye," Whitney continued.

Hospital staff washed the child's burns, cut away his dead skin and applied an ointment, while an ophthalmologist treated his eye, finding that his vision had thankfully been saved.

One doctor responsible for tending to Caleb revealed he's just the latest in a long list of children who've been hospitalised with similar injuries.

Caleb was left with some serious burns (CBS Chicago)

"A child who heated it up in the microwave, then put her finger on it and her finger went through, and it burned her finger," Kelly McElligott added. "Do not heat these up in any way, shape, or form.

"Whether it's the microwave, hot water, those things can really be dangerous."

Echoing the same sentiment, Whitney went on to urge: "Just talk with your kids, make sure they understand the safety of the things."

A similar warning was previously issued by staff from the Nassau County Fire Commission and Fire Marshal's Office.

They reported in a Facebook post that 'several children around the world have suffered third-degree burns to the face', including a child in Nassau County who'd suffered 'second-and-third-degree burns'.

"Toys are intended to be played with, as described on the label," they continued. "Misusing a product by heating it in a microwave, oven, or stovetop is dangerous.

The Needoh Toys were released in 2017 and have grown in popularity (Schylling)

"Parents, guardians, and other caretakers are urged to monitor any activities of children when they are in the kitchen. Accidents can happen to an adult in the kitchen, even if they take precautions, so for a child who doesn't know any better, the risk is even greater."

Schylling, the manufacturing company behind NeeDoh Cubes, issued Tyla with a statement, claiming that 'ensuring the safety of our consumers is fundamental for Schylling'.

That added: "We are disappointed to see there has been a trend on social media demonstrating misuse of our NeeDoh products. Misusing a NeeDoh product by microwaving, heating, or freezing is dangerous and could cause injury to the consumer."

A spokesperson also claimed they've partnered with social media companies to 'remove influential content containing NeeDoh product misuse', as well as including 'a safety warning on NeeDoh packaging and all our e-commerce listings to help combat product misuse'.