Parents Issue Urgent Warning After 7-Year-Old Girl Left in Coma Due to Microwave Accident

A seven-year-old girl was left with severe burns and had to be placed in a coma after innocently copying a viral video she saw online.

Scarlett Selby had watched TikTok and YouTube clips of people microwaving a NeeDoh cube and wanted to try it for herself, her mother, Amanda Blankenship, revealed.

In October last year, Scarlett froze the toy, then microwaved it for a few seconds—mimicking what she had seen in the videos.

Tragically, what seemed like harmless fun quickly turned into a nightmare. The toy exploded, sending scalding hot goo across Scarlett’s face and chest, leaving her with horrific injuries.

Seven-year-old Scarlett allegedly tried out a tutorial (Kennedy News and Media)

“As you can imagine, Scarlett’s father, Josh Selby, was horrified by what had happened.

He rushed to his daughter’s side after hearing her ‘blood-curdling scream’ and desperately tried to remove the sticky substance from her skin and clothing.

Recalling the terrifying moment, Josh, from Festus, Missouri, explained: ‘She had frozen the NeeDoh cube the night before, and the next day, she showed me how solid it had become while playing with it.’

‘Then she decided to put it in the microwave. I was watching her as she checked to see if it was too hot after taking it out.’

‘Everything happened so fast. The moment she touched it, I heard her scream—a blood-curdling sound. It had exploded, covering her chest, mouth, and chin.'”

The young girl was placed into an induced coma (Kennedy News and Media)

Scarlett’s father recalled the terrifying moment, saying: “My first instinct was to wipe it off her, but every time I touched her, my hand stuck to her. It was incredibly thick and sticky.”

“I tore her shirt off because the goo had adhered to it as well. Then, I rushed her to the hospital as fast as I could.”

The schoolgirl was immediately taken to St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where doctors placed her in an induced coma to prevent her airways from swelling shut.

Her mother, Amanda, described the harrowing ordeal: “She was still screaming when we arrived, and it’s a good 30-minute drive from where we live. Seeing her that terrified and in so much pain was absolutely heartbreaking.”

“‘I was panicked, devastated, terrified, and heartbroken.’

Scarlett’s father admitted, ‘I was an absolute wreck. She spent a week in the hospital, and for three of those days, she was in a coma. I couldn’t even speak to anyone without breaking down in tears.’

The severity of the accident left Scarlett with second- and third-degree burns. Months have passed since the ordeal, and the family is still waiting to find out whether she will require skin grafts.”

Scarlett sustained second and third-degree burns (Kennedy News and Media)

Amanda shared: “The scarring is really severe. We’re still applying creams and silicone ointments every day—the scars are so deep and raised from her skin.

“Sometimes, it really upsets her. I’ll notice her looking in the mirror after her bath, and she’ll just break down in tears.

“She gets very self-conscious, and I’ll see her trying to hide her scar with her shirt when we’re out in public. Other times, she’ll come home from school and tell me another child asked her about it.

“I always reassure her that she has nothing to be ashamed of. She’s been through so much, and it was a horrific accident.

“She survived it, and she’s incredibly strong. She’s still beautiful, and those scars are part of her story—they make her who she is.”

The toy Scarlett microwaved (Kennedy News and Media)

Following the terrifying incident, Scarlett’s parents are now raising awareness about the hidden dangers of these toys, urging others to dispose of them to prevent similar accidents.

The toy’s manufacturer, Schylling Toys, includes a clear warning on its website:

“Do NOT heat, freeze, or microwave. May cause personal injury.”

In response, TikTok stated that it does not allow content that promotes or showcases dangerous behavior. Meanwhile, YouTube emphasized that it is a 13+ platform, prioritizing user safety and actively removing harmful content.

A spokesperson for Schylling told LADbible Group:

“Consumer safety is at the core of what we do at Schylling. We were deeply concerned to see a social media trend misusing our NeeDoh® brand, leading to potential risks.”

“‘Misusing a NeeDoh product by microwaving, heating, or freezing poses serious dangers and can lead to injury. Schylling has partnered with social media platforms like TikTok to remove content that promotes improper use of NeeDoh products.

‘Additionally, we have implemented a warning label on NeeDoh packaging and updated our website to help prevent misuse.

‘Schylling has also notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission and will continue to work closely with them on this matter.'”