As we enter the hottest days we’ve experienced so far in North Texas in 2026, the Texas Department of Safety is warning parents to caution their kids about potentially leaving their toys out in the car in the hot summer sun.
We worry about our pets in the heat, we know our seatbelts will be hot to the touch, but toys left out baking can absorb heat as well, and in the case of the popular toy NeeDohs can also provide another danger as well.
NeeDohs are malleable fidget toys that can be squeezed to hold any form. Imagine them to be like balloons filled with sand that you can squeeze into any shape you want.
Dr. Jasmine Lemmons, an emergency medicine physician at Children’s Medical Center Plano, told the Dallas Morning News, “It may not be at the front of parents’ minds, because they’re probably trying to check the seat belts and car seat itself to make sure it’s not too hot.
“But quickly checking the toys is important too, because kids jump in the car and immediately want to grab the toy without realizing that they’re so hot.”
Not only can these toys cause burns that can leave lifelong complications, by picking them up when they’re hot the pressure inside of them only increases, which could potentially cause them to explode.
Lemmons advises parents to remember to check for toys in the car before children jump in, that it is good practice to teach children to ask first before touching any objects in the car.
And in particular for squishy toys, Lemmons recommends checking for cracks or signs of damage that indicate they could easily burst.
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