// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did squishy say to its date? You're a soft match.
A squishy is a type of soft toy made of a specially formulated soft polyurethane foam or thermoplastic rubber, that slowly returns to its original shape after being squeezed. Squishies are manufactured into many different shapes and sizes, such as animals, fruits, and food items. They are often scented to match the object represented. The toy is also called kawai squishy, kawaii meaning "cute" in Japanese.
Originating in Japan, squishies became available in the US in the spring of 2017. In the following years, the toys became popular around the world.[citation needed]
Squishies became popular among children and adolescents, but also among adults, for the tactile pleasure that one experiences squishing them, which is said to relieve stress.[1]
In addition to relieving stress, squishies can also enhance focus and help regulate emotions by serving as a pleasant distraction. This makes it useful and popular among those who have anxiety or ADHD.[2]
History
[edit]Squishies are a recent member of a more general class of mindless manipulation toys that includes stress balls and fidget spinners. The genre may be seen as very old, including, for example, the 16th-century cup-and-ball toy (bilboquet). Non-foamed materials can also be referred to as squishies. This might involve highly plasticized rubber or crosslinked polymers that generate squishy materials.[3] The latter might provide a healthier alternative as it contains no small migratable molecules if prepared properly. The squishiness of the material can be controlled by controlling the crosslink density. If there are too few crosslinks, the material might remain squashed.
In the 2010s and 2020s, squishy-style toys became widely commercialized. In addition to the classic slow-rising polyurethane foam squishies, manufacturers have produced various tactile sensory toys with similar properties. Examples include stretchy, dough-filled toys from the NeeDoh line by Schylling, as well as products from brands such as Smooshy Mushy and TabaSquishy.[4]
In 2025, squishies that looked like sticks of butter, or NeeDohs, made an Internet trend on TikTok and YouTube.[5][6]
Health issues
[edit]The Danish Environmental Protection Agency tested 12 squishies and found that they all release unacceptable levels of harmful substances, such as dimethylformamide, leading to their removal from the Danish market and the recommendation that all squishies be discarded and that they can safely be disposed of as household waste.[7]
Squishies have also been taken off the market in Norway because of their potential choking hazard and their popularity with small children between the ages of 6–12.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Annaliese Griffin (2017): "Adults’ obsession with weird, squishy stuffed animals reveals a heartbreaking need in our psyche". Blogpost on the Quartz website, dated 2017-10-03. Accessed on 20120-01-13.
- ↑ "Do Fidget Toys Help With ADHD?". neurohealthah.com. NeuroHealth Arlington Heights. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ↑ Carroll, Gregory T.; Devon Triplett, L.; Moscatelli, Alberto; Koberstein, Jeffrey T.; Turro, Nicholas J. (2011-10-05). "Photogeneration of gelatinous networks from pre-existing polymers". Journal of Applied Polymer Science. 122 (1): 168–174. doi:10.1002/app.34133.
- ↑ "NeeDoh® Official Website – Authentic NeeDoh Squishy Toys by Schylling". NeeDoh. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
- ↑ "Kids are obsessed with butter. Not the kind you put on toast". ca.style.yahoo.com. 2026-06-23. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ↑ Sery, Evan (2026-05-26). "What is a Needoh? The squishy toy causing a craze across Michigan, leaving empty store shelves". WXYZ 7 News Detroit. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ↑ "Skumlegetoej afgiver farlige kemikalier". The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (in Danish). Ministry of Environment of Denmark. 20 June 2018. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- ↑ "Suishies trekked tilbake fra markedet" (in Norwegian). 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.