Squishy Toy Safety: What We Look For at FIG

If you've seen some concerning stories about squishy toys lately, you're not alone.

We've seen them too.

In fact, I have Google Alerts set up for news about squishies, so when new stories appear, they tend to land in my inbox.

Many of the reports I've been seeing have come from overseas, but that doesn't mean I simply scroll past them because we're in Australia.

I read them.

Because if there is a concern being raised about a type of product we sell at FIG, I want to know about it.

Recently, a customer contacted us after seeing some of those stories herself. She had questions about the squishies we stock at FIG and whether I was comfortable with the products we sell.

And I was genuinely glad she asked.

Because they're questions I've been asking too.

Not every squishy is the same

“Squishy” covers an enormous range of products.

They can be made from different materials, contain different fillings, come from different manufacturers and vary enormously in quality.

So when a concerning story appears about a squishy toy, I don't think the answer is to panic and assume every squishy is dangerous.

But I also don't think the answer is to shrug and assume everything on our shelves must be fine.

For me, the sensible response sits somewhere in the middle:

Find out more. Ask questions. And take concerns seriously.

What do we do at FIG?

We source our products through established suppliers and wholesalers, and when concerns are raised about a product category we stock, I contact our suppliers.

That's exactly what I've done with the recent concerns around squishies.

I've spoken with multiple suppliers, asked questions and sought reassurance about the products they're supplying to us.

And I'll continue doing that.

Because I'm not interested in selling something simply because it's popular.

Of course I want FIG to have exciting products. I want people to walk in and discover something they haven't seen before. And yes, I get ridiculously excited when a new squishy delivery arrives too. 😂

But I also want to be proud of what we put on our shelves.

That matters more.

There are things consumers can look for too

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published consumer guidance about squishy toys.

Some of its advice is wonderfully straightforward: check products for damage, tears or leaks; pay attention to age recommendations and warnings; supervise younger children; and don't allow children to put squishies or their contents in their mouths.

It also recommends buying from reputable sellers where you can find information about the business and have somewhere to go if something goes wrong.

That one matters to me.

Because there's a huge difference between buying an anonymous product from somewhere online and buying from a business where you can actually pick up the phone and ask a question.

And please — don't microwave your squishies

Some of the recent attention around squishies has involved social media trends where people heat them.

Please don't.

Squishies aren't heat packs.

The ACCC warns against heating squishies because their contents can become extremely hot and the product can burst or leak, potentially causing burns. It also advises against intentionally cutting, puncturing, freezing or breaking squishies open.

Follow the instructions for the product you have and use it for what it was designed to do:

Squish it.

No experimental cooking required. 😂

Squishies don't last forever

This is another thing worth talking about.

Squishies are squeezed, stretched, poked, dropped and sometimes loved within an inch of their lives.

Eventually, some will wear out.

Check them regularly. If you notice damage, leaking, a broken seam, sticky residue or anything else that doesn't seem right, stop using it.

And if it's something you've purchased from FIG and you're concerned about it, please contact us.

I'd much rather you ask.

Trust doesn't mean pretending we know everything

I think this is probably the most important part.

I will never be able to personally manufacture, laboratory test and independently analyse every product that comes through FIG's doors.

That's not realistic for a small retailer.

What I can do is be thoughtful about where we source products, ask our suppliers questions, stay aware of emerging concerns and recalls, listen when customers raise something with us and act when something doesn't feel right.

And if I don't know the answer to something?

I'll tell you I don't know — and I'll try to find out.

Recently, that simple conversation with a customer reminded me of something.

People aren't always just looking for somewhere to buy a product.

Sometimes they're looking for somewhere they feel comfortable asking questions.

Somewhere they know there's an actual person behind the business.

Somewhere that will listen if they're concerned rather than dismissing them.

That's the kind of business I want FIG to be.

We love squishies at FIG. They're fun, they're tactile, they're satisfying and for many of our customers they're genuinely one of their favourite sensory products.

We're not going to stop talking about how much we love them simply because concerning headlines exist.

But we're also not going to ignore those headlines.

We'll keep reading.
We'll keep asking questions.
And we'll keep doing our best to make thoughtful decisions about what earns a place on our shelves.

💚 Bec
FIG Supports