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What is a squishy? Slow Rising, crack butter and stretchy shells
A squishy is a soft toy for squeezing, kneading and pulling. How it feels depends on the material: some are made of foam that slowly springs back up, others have a stretchy shell. Here you will learn how the types differ and what to look out for regarding age and storage.
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What is a squishy?
The word squishy means roughly soft or mushy. It refers to a squeeze toy that you press together in your hand and that then returns to its shape. Many squishies look like food, such as a piece of butter, a cube of cheese or a burger. They are still toys and not food.
What matters most for the feel in your hand is the material. Foam gives way and comes back slowly. A shell made of thermoplastic rubber (TPR) can be stretched and springs back into shape faster.
| Squishy | Material | How it feels | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter yellow, Butter strawberry | PU foam | gives way, slowly springs back up | 14 × 4 × 4 cm |
| Crack butter | PU foam with soy wax | cracks on the first firm squeeze, then soft | 14 × 4 × 4 cm |
| Cheese cube | TPR shell | can be pulled lengthways | 5 × 5 × 5 cm |
| Burger | TPR shell | can be pressed flat, springs back | 8 × 8 × 6 cm |
| Grape | TPR shell, filled with water beads | berries turn translucent when squeezed | 7 × 6 × 6 cm |
What does Slow Rising mean?
Slow Rising describes foam that does not spring straight back after being pressed. If you press a dent into the block, it stays visible for a moment, then the foam slowly rises again. That is exactly what makes it fun to watch.
With us, the butter pieces are made of this foam: Squishy Butter Yellow, Squishy Butter Strawberry and Squishy Mystery Butter, where you only see the design when you unpack it. The butter pieces can be squeezed, kneaded and twisted.
Crack butter: what is wax cracking?
On the Squishy Crack Butter, a slightly translucent layer of soy wax sits over the foam. On the first firm squeeze it breaks open and cracks audibly. On social media this is called wax cracking.
Once the wax layer has broken, the fine cracks stay visible. Underneath, you carry on kneading as with a normal butter piece made of slow-rising foam.
How squishies feel
In the video you can see how the squishies react to pressure and pulling: the butter pieces keep a dent and come back slowly, the crack butter develops cracks, the cheese cube can be pulled, the burger pressed flat and the grape shows its water beads.
Squishies with a stretchy shell
The Squishy Cheese Cube, Squishy Hamburger and Squishy Grape have a soft TPR shell. You can pull the cheese cube lengthways and press the burger flat from above. Both then spring back into shape.
The grape is filled with water beads. When you squeeze it, the berries turn translucent and you can see the beads. Water beads can be dangerous for small children if the shell tears and they are swallowed. The grape therefore does not belong in the hands of small children.
Where does a squishy fit in?
The butter pieces are 14 centimetres long and fit on the desk, in a pencil case or in a jacket pocket. At 5 centimetres along each edge, the cheese cube is even smaller. That gives you something to knead in between, at the office, while studying or on the go.
At the office
The cheese cube fits in one hand and sits ready next to your papers.
While gaming
The burger for pressing flat between two rounds.
On the go
The butter pieces fit in a rucksack or jacket pocket.
Size compared
A butter piece is 14 centimetres long and about the size of a smartphone.
From what age, and what to watch for?
The age limit that applies to your design is printed on the packaging. Stick to it and let small children play with it only under supervision. The grape with water beads does not belong in the hands of small children: if the shell tears, the beads can be swallowed and swell up inside the body.
Because squishies look like food, the rule is: do not put them in your mouth and do not eat them. Do not cut the grape open, so that the filling stays inside.
How do you store a squishy?
Do not leave squishies in the car or in direct sun. They can get very hot there. Store them dry and at room temperature, for example in a drawer or on the desk. Keep the packaging with the instructions.
You can find all designs in the category Squishies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between foam and TPR?
PU foam gives way and slowly rises again. TPR is a soft, stretchy plastic that can be pulled and springs back into shape faster.
Do the cracks stay on the crack butter?
Yes. The wax layer breaks open on the first firm squeeze, after which fine cracks stay visible. The foam underneath can still be kneaded.
Can I choose a design for the Mystery Butter?
No. The design and colour are random and only show when you unpack it.
Are squishies edible?
No. They look like food but are toys. Do not put them in your mouth.
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