Squishy toys have become especially popular and with children asking for more and more of them they can be found in almost every toy store in Israel. But along with the enthusiasm come problems, and even injuries.
The stretchy, soft and squeezable toys come in a variety of shapes and sometimes contain gel, liquid or colorful beads. But behind the innocent appearance and fun play, there may also be dangers. Just this week, a 6-year-old girl from central Israel reportedly needed hospital treatment after one such toy burst and parts of it became lodged in her ear. Hospitals said they have not encountered additional cases requiring medical intervention so far, but other parents have shared concerning experiences on social media after using the product.
Hanna Amsalem of Dimona told ynet that her 7-year-old daughter, Noam, had a similar experience last week when the toy burst in her face while she was playing with it. “My husband ordered several of them for her. She was playing with one of them one evening. Inside there was a white liquid, like glue. While she was playing, it exploded in her face. Her whole face was covered in white. She was frightened and started screaming,” she said.
“Even after we washed her face, some of the material remained on her eyelashes. She was very frightened, and her eyes were burning. In the morning, she woke up with burning eyes again, and we put drops in her eyes.” The burning did not continue afterward, but the Amsalem family immediately threw the toy in the trash. In fact, they threw away whole bags of them.
“Luckily, it ended this way and not differently,” Amsalem added. “As a toy, it’s great for children who have concentration difficulties, like a ball you squeeze to relieve stress. But, on the other hand, we don’t know what material is inside. Especially because here in Israel it’s expensive, so people order from abroad. After what happened, we decided it will no longer come into our house. It could have caused irreversible damage.”
Rona, a mother of two girls ages 5 and 8, has also decided not to buy any more squishy toys. “My daughters love them. Every time we’re in stores, they ask me to buy them, but every time I bought them one, without exception, it burst the same day. There are awful materials inside that are also hard to clean. Nothing disastrous happened, but I won’t allow it into my home.”
It only looks harmless
Dr. Ofir Bar-On, a senior physician at the pulmonary institute at Schneider Children’s Medical Center, part of Clalit Health Services, said that “the case of the squishy toy illustrates that even toys that look innocent and safe can cause significant injuries. When toys break apart or contain small parts, they can become lodged in the ear or nose, be swallowed into the digestive system or be inhaled into the lungs,” he explained.
Young children explore the world through their mouths, he said, making it important to ensure that toys are age-appropriate, intact and used under supervision. “At Schneider, we treat many children who arrive after swallowing or inhaling foreign objects, including magnets, button batteries, marbles, beads, coins and small game pieces,” Bar-On said.
It looks harmless
(Photo: Konia4ka, Shutterstock)
He noted that some objects can become stuck in the esophagus or be inhaled into the lungs and block the airway, requiring urgent action. “Button batteries can cause severe burns in the esophagus within just a few hours, and swallowing magnets can lead to significant damage to the digestive system and even emergency surgery.”
To illustrate the scope of the problem, Schneider has two display cabinets containing dozens of objects removed from children’s bodies over the years — one in the gastroenterology institute and one in the pediatric intensive care unit. “They serve as a tangible reminder that what sometimes appears to be a small and innocent object can, in an instant, become a life-threatening medical emergency,” Bar-On said.
The dangers of summer
Concern over injuries to children, whether from toys or other unusual incidents, rises as the summer vacation is set to begin in the coming days. According to research data from Beterem — Safe Kids Israel, 29 children died in accidents in summer 2025, from June 21 to August 31, mainly in traffic accidents, drownings and choking incidents. Some 48% of the victims were toddlers from birth to age 4.
The organization said about 41% of the deaths were among Arab children and teenagers — 1.8 times their share of Israel’s child and teen population. Haredi children accounted for about 17% of the fatalities.
Orly Silbinger, CEO of Beterem — Safe Kids Israel, added that “while children’s routines change completely, parents continue working. They do not have vacations remotely close in length to their children’s, and they are required to pay high costs for summer arrangements while also managing a new routine that brings many risks.”
She said the most common accidents are drownings, children being forgotten in cars, traffic accidents and falls from heights. “Child injuries are not inevitable. I appeal to you, parents: Do not say, ‘It won’t happen to me.’ Summer vacation is indeed a time for family experiences, trips and vacations, but it is also a period when the risk of child injury rises," she said. "Precisely when we leave routine behind, it is important to pause for a moment, identify risk factors, plan ahead and make sure the environment is safe for children and that they are in settings that can maintain a safe routine.”