What are dumpling squishies and why are kids buying them?

Dumpling squishies explained: the blind packs, rare glitter versions, NeeDoh hunting, the short-video appeal and why shops keep selling out.

Updated 2026-10-14

Dumpling squishies are soft, squeezable toys shaped like a bao bun or steamed dumpling. You press them flat and they slowly puff back into shape. Most are sold as "mystery" packs in a small pot made to look like a bamboo steamer, so you only find out the colour when you open it, and a few rare versions (glitter, holographic, gold) are hidden among the common ones. That gamble, plus the way they look in short videos and the fact that shops keep running out, is why so many children were queueing for them in 2026.

What exactly is a dumpling squishy?

Which? describes them as palm-sized, liquid-filled squeezable toys sold in identical sealed packaging. GlitterBeam calls them sensory or fidget toys with no electronics or app: the whole point is the squeeze and the slow rebound.

The best-known version is the Mystery Squishy Dumpling sold under the Crazy Fun brand by RMS. Which? says RMS is UK-founded; in the US the line is sold by RMS USA, whose announcements are datelined North Andover, Massachusetts. As the trend grew, other makers released their own dumplings. GlitterBeam names TABASQUISHY, which sells silicone dumplings, and notes that others use TPR or PU (types of soft plastic and foam). There are also many unbranded copies, some of them unsafe (see are dumpling squishies safe?).

How NeeDoh fits in

NeeDoh is a separate, older brand. Schylling, a Massachusetts toy company, launched it in 2017, according to Axios. NeeDoh toys are squishy fidget toys in lots of shapes, and TODAY lists toast, dumplings and pickles among them. When people say "squishies" in 2026 they often mean both: NeeDoh in its many shapes, and the dumplings from RMS and others. GlitterBeam is careful to say that not every NeeDoh product is a dumpling squishy.

How the blind packs and "rares" work

Most dumplings are sold so that you cannot see which one you are getting. Which? describes three rough tiers for the RMS dumplings:

New editions add their own chase pieces. A Morrisons listing for the "Shimmering Starlight Edition" says the ultra-rare Starlight Dumpling is the one to look for. A US retailer, ToyWiz, describes an "ultra-rare golden dumpling" in its rainbow mystery pack. In May 2026 RMS USA went further with a "Golden Ticket" edition at Five Below: one gold dumpling, described as one of a kind, came with a ticket for a $1,000 shopping spree, with "super-rare" silver ones also hidden in the release.

None of the sources we read publish the odds of finding a rare, so there is no way to know how many packs you would need to buy. One US student told her school newspaper she had bought 12 and still had not found the one she wanted.

Why everyone is buying them

They are made for short videos

GlitterBeam points out that the squash-and-rebound effect is obvious within seconds on TikTok and similar apps, and close-up videos add an ASMR-style appeal. A US student paper said many dumplings sat unsold before they went viral on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

The hunt is the point

KMUW describes "NeeDoh hunts", where people go from shop to shop trying to complete a collection, along with "squishy rating" videos and trading boards. A Sioux Falls business columnist described Gen Alpha children hunting in groups, in person and away from screens, and compared the scarcity to Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch Kids. RMS USA's own announcement talks about every release becoming an event for its fans.

Shops keep running out

Shortages make the hunt feel urgent. Axios reported in April 2026 that Schylling had sold six months of NeeDoh stock in six weeks and that RMS USA's glitter dumplings sold out within the hour after restocks. A Kansas shop owner told KMUW that NeeDoh had been at factory capacity for three years. Some shops now release one style a day or limit how many each customer can buy; one Illinois shop allowed one dumpling per person.

They are cheap, at first

At around £4-£6 in the UK or about $5 at Five Below, a single dumpling is pocket-money priced. The cost comes from buying again and again to find a rare, or paying resale prices.

Some people use them to calm down

A Texas toy shop worker told KBTX that many children with autism or ADHD use them, and TODAY reported adults squeezing them while working or studying. An 11-year-old told KMUW that squeezing one helps when she is stressed. These are personal accounts, not medical evidence.

The downsides of the craze

• Queues and bad behaviour. TODAY reported about 200 people waiting outside one Illinois shop on a release day, police being called over a queue dispute, and a Washington shop that stopped stocking NeeDoh because of rude customers and theft.
• Resale mark-ups. Axios reported online resale prices of up to ten times retail. KMUW quoted a 21-year-old customer saying a NeeDoh that cost about $8 now costs about $30.
• Fakes. Scarcity creates a market for copies. KSL reported that children argue over which squishies are "real" or "fake", and that an industry buyer says the more useful question is where a toy came from. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council in Wales collected 224 unsafe squishies from traders in July 2026, some suspected counterfeits, and the CPSC has warned US parents about counterfeit squishy toys.
• A dangerous video trend. The CPSC warns that videos of children microwaving squishies are dangerous: heated toys can burst and the hot filling sticks to skin.

Will it last?

Nobody knows. A Kansas toy shop owner expected the trend to grow, with new squishies due later in 2026, while a young customer in the same KMUW piece expected something new to push squishies aside by the end of the year. RMS USA has said it plans more rare drops. If you are buying for a child, it is sensible to treat a squishy as a cheap toy rather than an investment.

Next steps

• Worried about safety? Read are dumpling squishies safe?
• Ready to buy? See where to buy dumpling squishies in the UK and US.
• Back to the dumpling squishies overview.