The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about a simple summer mistake that can turn into a safety problem: leaving squishy toys inside a hot vehicle.
In a recent post on X, the agency urged people to “keep both out of your car,” using an image showing a campfire and a squishy toy in the back seat. The message is aimed at the extreme heat that can build up inside parked vehicles during warm weather.
According to the CPSC, squishy toys left inside hot cars can burst and cause serious injuries. The agency advises consumers to take these toys indoors instead of leaving them in a vehicle where temperatures can rise significantly.
The warning also comes with a broader reminder: squishy toys should never be heated intentionally, including in a microwave or by another heat source.
Why Hot Cars Are a Concern
A parked vehicle can become extremely hot even when the outside temperature does not seem unusually high. Items left inside are therefore exposed to conditions they would not normally encounter indoors.
For squishy toys, the CPSC's warning focuses on the possibility that heat can cause the toy to burst. That creates a potential injury risk, particularly if someone is close to the toy when it happens.
The agency's advice is straightforward: don't leave squishy toys in a hot car. Bring them inside and keep them in a cool environment.
No Recall Announced in This Warning
This particular CPSC message is a general consumer-safety warning, not a recall notice for a specific squishy-toy brand or model.
The CPSC regularly issues product recalls and safety warnings involving different types of consumer products. Its official recall database lists specific products when a particular item has been recalled.
For consumers, the takeaway from this latest warning is simple: if a squishy toy goes along for a car trip, take it out of the vehicle when you leave.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
