Teen who suffered third-degree burns by microwaved NeeDoh toy warns others about social media trend

JEFFERSON CO., Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – A teenager in Alabama who was burned by a NeeDoh is warning people to stop doing a dangerous social media trend circulating the internet.

Eli Blackmon was 11 when he saw a trend on TikTok showing users putting NeeDoh squishy toys in the microwave to make them softer.

After removing the toy and playing with it, the squishy popped. The hot material inside burned his neck and chest, leaving scars he will carry for the rest of his life.

“Don’t do it. It’s stupid. Consequences aren’t worth it,” Eli, now 13, said.

Third-degree burns, months of recovery

Eli suffered full-thickness third-degree burns.

His mother, Fallon Blackmon, said recovery stretched over four months and more than a dozen doctor visits.

Doctors repeatedly scraped away dead skin to help new tissue grow, a painful process that included chemical treatments.

Eli also developed a staph infection on his shoulder. The burns pulled fluids from his body, causing stomach and digestive problems throughout his recovery.

“It was just hurting, so I was focused on that. I was like, ‘What’s going to happen? Am I going to die?’” Eli said.

Blackmon said the fear her son experienced was understandable.

“We knew he was going to be all right and he wasn’t going to die, but for a kid that age, something so serious and painful — and never having experienced anything like that — they don’t know that they’re not going to die,” she said. “Like, they don’t know that it’s not that serious to the point of death, but it’s very traumatic.”

Why they’re speaking out now

The Blackmons said they are coming forward because kids are still attempting the trend. Eli said he had to warn some people within the last few weeks.

Schylling, the company that makes NeeDoh toys, provided a statement in response to the social media trend.

Ensuring the safety of our consumers is fundamental for Schylling. 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. Schylling is working with social media companies such as TikTok to remove influential content containing NeeDoh® product misuse.

Additionally, Schylling has included a safety warning on NeeDoh® packaging and our all e-commerce listings to help combat product misuse.

Schylling Media Team

The Blackmons said there was no warning label on the toy two years ago.

Schylling said it has since added several warnings about microwaving the toy or leaving it in hot cars to help combat product misuse.