Squishy Dumplings become latest must-have toy craze among Nordic children

A soft, dumpling-shaped stress toy called the Squishy Dumpling has become the latest viral sensation among children and teens in Denmark, with stores struggling to keep up with demand, reports DR.

The plush, squeezable toy—designed to resemble an Asian dumpling—has taken off as the newest trend in youth culture, following earlier crazes like Labubu dolls and Pokémon cards. Trend analyst Mads Arlien-Søborg attributes its popularity to the growing influence of East Asian pop culture, particularly from China, Japan, and South Korea.

“There’s huge interest in what’s coming out of Asia right now,” Arlien-Søborg said. “These concepts are fresh, new, and different from what Danish or American toy manufacturers typically produce.”

At Kids Coolshop in Odense, sales assistant Kasper Hansen reports that the toys sell out almost instantly. “Kids come running in as soon as they see them, shouting, ‘They have dumplings! They have dumplings!’” he said. The store has stopped taking pre-orders and now operates on a first-come, first-served basis due to overwhelming demand.

Part of the appeal lies in the toy’s design: a “blind box” format where buyers don’t know which color or rare variant they’ll get. “It’s relaxing to hold, and there’s excitement in not knowing what you’ll end up with,” said Anna Bøg, a student from Odense who discovered the trend on TikTok. Her friend Emma Rix added that the tactile experience is “satisfying and stress-relieving.”

Arlien-Søborg notes that TikTok has been crucial in accelerating the trend’s global spread. “Traditional marketing strategies don’t apply here—it’s all about influencers unboxing them,” he explained. The toy checks multiple boxes: cuteness, sensory appeal, collectibility, and the thrill of chance.

However, the trend may be short-lived. “These crazes explode quickly, peak for six months to a year, and then fade just as fast,” Arlien-Søborg predicted. “They’re born on TikTok, and they die on TikTok—but something new will always replace them.”