Are Squishies Safe? What Every Parent Should Check in 2026

After the 2026 recall of counterfeit squishies, here's exactly what to look for — and how we make ours the safe way.

In August 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an alert about fake, counterfeit squishy toys — flagging burn hazards, unknown fillings, and banned chemicals, with hundreds of thousands of units seized. If you're a parent, that's scary. So let's make it simple: here's what actually makes a squishy safe, and the questions worth asking before you buy.

1. Do you know what's inside? The single biggest red flag is mystery filling. A trustworthy maker will tell you exactly what a squishy is made of — foam clay, memory foam, sealed gel — in plain language. If a listing won't say, skip it.

2. Are there loose water beads? This is the non-negotiable. Loose or water-absorbing beads can be swallowed and swell inside the body; a 2025 federal safety standard exists precisely because of thousands of injuries. Our answer is simple: we never use loose water beads. Our gel squishies are a single sealed gel mass in a burst-resistant pouch, designed so it can't be bitten open.

3. Is it age-graded and labeled? Small charms, clips, and little squishies are choking hazards for the youngest kids. Look for a clear age grade (ours are graded 8+, not for under 3) and a small-parts note.

4. Who made it, and can you find them? Counterfeits hide their manufacturer. Handmade, small-batch makers put their name on it. Ours are made to order in our home studio in Ohio, with tracked materials and supplier safety certificates.

The good news: safe squishies absolutely exist — you just want makers who are proud to show their work. That's the whole reason we built our What's Inside page.