TikTok trend Needoh cube: Plainfield boy, Caleb Grubb, burned after social media trend; Loyola Medicine shares urgent warning
CHICAGO (WLS) — Caleb Chabolla, a 9-year-old Plainfield boy, is on the mend two weeks after putting a simple toy in the microwave.
In a matter of seconds, it exploded, causing burns to his face.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
“He was crying and just yelling, ‘It burns, it burns,'” said Whitney Grubb, Caleb’s mother.
Whitney says her son’s Kneedoh Cube had burst. Inside the popular sensory toy, a thick, gel-like substance became hot because of the microwave and stuck to his face.
“The right side of his face was kind of melting off, basically,” Whitney said.
Nine-year-old Caleb was left with severe burns after following a TikTok video of people microwaving a toy to make it more pliable.
Loyola Medicine
Caleb says he doesn’t remember much after his Kneedoh Cube exploded. But he does remember where he got the idea to put it in the microwave.
“It’s like a stress toy. I didn’t know it was a trend on TikTok before, because my friend did it before, but she didn’t get hurt,” Caleb said.
The idea is to warm up the toy and make it more pliable. Caleb’s mom says her son didn’t hear about it directly from social media, and yet, her son still wound up the victim of a dangerous trend.
“These people don’t know the repercussions of what these challenges and goofy trends can do to kids, especially the younger ones,” Whitney said.
Loyola University Medical Center says Caleb is the fourth case they have seen this year involving Needoh Cubes.
“We see the negative results of TikTok challenges all the time,” said Loyola University Medical Center Burn Outreach Coordinator Kelly McElligott. “The people who are getting hurt don’t necessarily post the TikToks. You’re just seeing the fun ones where it looks cool.”
Whitney and Caleb say their message to parents and kids alike is simple.
“Sometimes, you take for granted what your knowledge is. That’s commons sense to us, but not common sense to them,” Whitney said.
“Just think before you act,” Caleb said.
Although the burns were very close to his eye, Loyola Medicine said his vision will be OK, adding that the hospital was sharing Caleb’s story amid National Burn Awareness Week.
Nine-year-old Caleb was left with severe burns after following a TikTok video of people microwaving a toy to make it more pliable.
Loyola Medicine
Both Caleb and his mom are grateful for his swift recovery.
Caleb says he is ready to get back to school and tell his friends not to do what he did or do anything they see on social media without asking an adult first.
ABC7 reached out to the company who makes the Needoh Cube but did not immediately hear back.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
