Safety info
Safety first, squish second.
Every toy sold in the UK must meet the toy safety rules. Sadly, lots of squishies sold online don't. Here's how we check every squish before it goes on sale, and what you can check too.
On every squish
The Squish Safety Promise
Every squish we sell has to pass all six. If it can't, we don't sell it.
- CE or UKCA markedThe safety mark every toy sold in the UK needs.
- Lab-tested to EN 71By an accredited testing lab. We check the report is for this exact squish.
- A named UK businessOur name and UK address are on every squish, so you know who's responsible for it.
- No strong chemical smellWe sniff-test samples ourselves before anything goes on sale.
- No liquid fillingsWe don't sell liquid or glitter-liquid squishies. Several have been found with mould and microbes in the liquid.
- Proof you can seeDownload the test report from our safety page, or ask us for it.
How we check every squish
A squish only goes on sale when it passes all of these.
Real lab tests
We get the toy safety test report (EN 71 parts 1, 2 and 3), which covers physical safety, flammability and harmful chemical elements. It must come from a proper testing lab, and we check the report number with that lab.
The right paperwork
We check the report and the Declaration of Conformity are for this exact squish, not a similar one. Mismatched paperwork is one of the most common reasons squishies get stopped at the UK border.
The right age
We show the age each squish is tested for on its product card, so you can see it before you buy.
Marked and traceable
Each squish carries a CE or UKCA mark, and our UK business name and address, so you always know who's responsible for it.
Want to see the paperwork?
Just ask. Email hello@sparkleandsquish.co.uk with the name of the squish and we'll send you the safety details we hold for it.
Our squishes' safety details
Look for the green "Safety checked" badge on each product.
Squish safety tips for grown-ups
- Check the age. Only give a squish to a child old enough for it. The age is on the packaging and on our product cards.
- Look for the marks. A toy sold in the UK should have a CE or UKCA mark, plus the name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for it.
- No chewing. Squishies aren't for mouths, even the ones that look like food.
- Bin it if it splits. If a squish tears or leaks, throw it away and keep the filling away from mouths and eyes.
- Watch out for strong smells. If a new squish has a strong chemical smell, don't keep it in a child's bedroom. Contact the seller.
- Keep it cool. Don't microwave or heat squishies.
- Check for recalls. Search the government's recall list (link below) if you're unsure about a toy you already have.
- Buying NeeDoh? Fakes are common. Genuine NeeDoh has Schylling branding, and UK packs name Bigjigs Toys as the distributor. Fakes often have a strong smell or feel sticky or greasy.
Why this matters: squishies seized in 2026
Trading Standards teams across the UK have been stopping unsafe squishies all year. Most had no CE or UKCA mark and no UK business named on them. Some had a strong chemical smell.
- About 500,000 squishies stopped at Heathrow in two months by Hillingdon Trading Standards. Some failed microbiological tests on the liquid inside.
- Over 5,900 fake squishies seized from a Glasgow warehouse, with warnings about chemical smells, choking and flammability.
- Nearly 2,000 unsafe squishies seized in Gloucestershire, including copies of squishy dumplings and suspected fake NeeDohs.
Why we don't sell liquid-filled squishies
If a liquid-filled squish splits, whatever is inside ends up on hands, faces and carpets. UK safety checks keep finding liquids that aren't clean:
- Squishy Dumpling Bun Squeeze Toy: glitter-liquid cubes rejected at the border. The liquid contained yeast, mould and microbes above safe limits, and there was no CE or UKCA mark.
- Glitter Ice Cube Squeezy Toy: rejected at the border for yeast and mould in the liquid, plus small parts that could come loose.
- Squishy Dino and Unicorn Eggs: recalled because they burst easily, releasing small parts and a liquid containing too many microbes.
So we keep it simple: no liquid or glitter-liquid squishies at all.
More recent UK squishy recalls
These are other sellers' products, not ours. They're all from the UK government's product safety list.
- Squeezy Dumplings: recalled because the outer layer contained benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer.
- Cheese Vent Toy Squishy: stopped at the UK border. Its paperwork didn't match the product, and tests found chemicals (VOCs) including xylenes and styrene.
- Squish! Gummy Bear Toy: stopped at the UK border for the same reasons.
- Squishy Sausage Dogs and Squishy Pugs: recalled because the sand inside may contain asbestos.
Useful links
For parents
- Search UK product safety alerts and recallsGOV.UK: check if a toy has been recalled
- Report an unsafe product to Trading StandardsCitizens Advice
- Child Accident Prevention TrustSafety advice for families
- How to spot fake sensory toysWest Lothian Council Trading Standards
- Why you shouldn't microwave squishiesWarrington Council Trading Standards
The rules
- The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011legislation.gov.uk: the law for toys sold in Great Britain
- Toy safety regulations guidanceGOV.UK
- CE markingGOV.UK
- Using the UKCA markingGOV.UK
- Toy safety guide for businessesBusiness Companion (Trading Standards)