Squishy

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Squishies are soft toys made from a special foam that slowly springs back after you squeeze them. They come in many shapes, like animals, fruits, and foods, and many are scented to match the shape. They’re also called kawaii squishy (kawaii means “cute” in Japanese). Squishies started in Japan and reached the United States in spring 2017, then spread worldwide and became popular on social media such as YouTube and Instagram.

People of all ages enjoy squishies for the satisfying squish and for stress relief, better focus, and help with anxiety or ADHD. They’re part of a broader group of fidget toys, like stress balls and other squeezable items.

Some squishies use other materials besides foam, and how much they squish can be changed by how they’re made. There have been safety concerns: in Denmark, tests found harmful substances in some squishies, so they were removed from the market and should be disposed of with household waste. In Norway, some squishies were also removed from the market due to choking risk for young children.