What are squishies made of? A squishy is usually soft polyurethane foam or a stretchy thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and toy shops also use the word for gel pads and plastic eye-popping toys. Below is what each material is, and what the squishies in our squishy toys collection are made of. The materials we give for our own toys are as listed on each toy's page.
Are squishies foam or rubber?
Most are foam or rubber. Wikipedia's squishy entry defines a squishy as a soft toy made of specially formulated polyurethane foam or thermoplastic rubber that slowly returns to its shape after a squeeze, and notes that non-foamed materials can also be called squishies. In toy shops, including ours, the word covers four families:
- Polyurethane foam. The slow-rise squishy shaped like bread, fruit or an animal. This is the classic kind.
- Thermoplastic rubber (TPR). Usually a mix of plastic and rubber that stretches moderately and returns to near its original shape.
- Gel pads. Gel inside a pad, which moves when you press it.
- Plastic eye-poppers. A plastic animal or brain whose eyes pop out when you squeeze it.
Squishies started in Japan, where the name kawaii squishy comes from (kawaii means cute in Japanese), and they reached the US in the spring of 2017. For why they took off again in 2026, see why are squishies so popular. Non-foam squishies may be made from highly plasticized rubber or crosslinked polymers. In the crosslinked kind, the squishiness depends on how many crosslinks the material has. With too few, a squishy can stay squashed instead of coming back.
What are our squishies made of?
Here is our range, toy by toy.
Egg squishies: a stretchy, rubbery material with a yolk inside
The Funky Egg squishy balls are 2.5-inch egg-shaped balls with a clear yolk inside, four to a pack. They are a stretchy, rubbery material. Squeeze one and it splats, then returns to its original shape. The Colorful Squishy Eggs are also 2.5-inch yolk-filled eggs in the same material, six to a pack. We call it rubbery rather than TPR because our listings don't name the exact type.
Super solid squishy eggs: for kids who squeeze hard
Our super solid squishy eggs are the same rubbery material and the same 2.5-inch size, in 4-packs and 6-packs. Our collection page puts them forward for kids who squeeze hard. If that is your kid, start there.
Brain and baseball splat balls: durable rubber
The brain squishy splat balls are durable rubber, three in a pack. The squishy baseball splat balls are rubber too, about 2.5 inches across, and also come as a 3-pack. Both are soft and sticky on purpose.
Eye-popping animals: ABS plastic
The Flippy Frog, Flippy Dragon, Flippy Kitten squishy and the Poppin' Peepers brain are a different kind of squishy. They are listed as ABS plastic. The Kitten's page also says latex-free, and the others don't say either way. Squeeze the toy and the eyes pop out, then go back after each squeeze. The Kitten is 4.4 x 2.5 x 2.4 inches and the Frog is 4.5 x 2.6 x 2.8 inches. Their pages call them larger than typical stress balls and stress relief toys.
Gel maze pads: gel inside
The gel-filled maze puzzle is a 7 x 4.7-inch gel pad, three in a set. You squeeze, push and guide the gel along the maze path. Its page says it encourages focus and fine motor skill development. The pad itself is listed only as "durable materials." It is sold as a quiet sensory fidget, for play at home, in class or while traveling.
What do squishies feel like?
The material changes the squeeze. Foam squishies rise back slowly. Our egg squishies splat when you squeeze them, then return to their original shape. The brain and baseball splat balls add a soft, sticky feel. The eye-poppers give a different payoff: the squeeze makes the eyes pop out. The gel maze is about moving the gel along a path, not about bounce.
Which squishy should you pick?
- Squeezes hard: the super solid eggs.
- Wants a splat: the Funky Eggs, the brain or the baseball.
- Wants something to happen on a squeeze: the plastic eye-poppers.
- Wants a quiet desk fidget that stays in hand: the gel maze.
Wipe any of them with a damp cloth. The baseballs can also be rinsed and air-dried, and the Flippy Dragon and Kitten pages say washable. Step-by-step for each type is in how to clean squishy toys. Keep squishies away from sharp objects and pets, and if a splat ball tears, it is done. Check the age on the pack before a squishy goes to a young child, and see are squishies safe for the full checklist. Many of these are also in our sensory toys for autism and ADHD collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are squishies filled with?
It depends on the toy. Our egg squishies have a clear yolk inside the stretchy, rubbery ball, and our gel maze pads have gel inside. Our brain and baseball splat balls are rubber, with no filling listed.
What are squishies used for?
Mostly for squeezing. People use them for the tactile pleasure of squeezing, which is said to relieve stress, and as a distraction that can help with focus, according to Wikipedia. They are also sold as party favors and classroom prizes.
Why do some squishy toys smell?
Squishies are often scented to match their shape. A fruit-shaped squishy, for example, may smell like that fruit. None of our squishy listings mention an added scent.
All of them are in our squishy toys collection.