NeeDohs 'more than a toy' and selling out fast in NZ

NeeDohs - they're a new viral social media trend, they are selling out worldwide, and New Zealanders are finding it hard to get their hands on one.

Multiple toy stores across New Zealand have experienced high demand but low stocks of NeeDohs.

Made by Schylling, a Massachusetts-based toy company, NeeDohs are a squishy sensory fidget toy that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and textures.

General manager of Toy World, Repeka Clubb, said because they had become a global trend, it had become harder to meet demand.

“We’ll be lucky to get stock in the next six months.

"Before, it was just a sort of a sensory toy. It's now evolved into a real collectible.”

Clubb said the social media trend quickly reached New Zealand, making Kiwis want NeeDohs.

“The thing is, it's very accessible. That's what also makes it fun.

“It is a trend that has got a lot of longevity,” she said.

Occupational therapist at Acorn Neurodiversity, Sophie Davis, said fidget toys like NeeDohs are good for sensory processing because they're made of tactical materials.

“They're not necessarily used as toys, but to actually help with academic learning or regulation and soothing.

“[It would help if schools made] them accessible to all students not just students that need extra support,” she said.

Davis said several young people she had worked with benefitted from using NeeDohs, but NeeDohs are not allowed in school.

“Their teachers have said no because it's a distraction to other students,” she said.

Davis said fidget toys should be normalised to remove a barrier for students who don’t want to feel different from their peers.

Sensory Sam is a store that sells sensory products. Owner Adam Bazzard said fidget toys were originally designed to cater for neurodivergent people to help with dysregulation.

“NeeDohs have exploded into the mainstream, so it's not just about the neurodivergent needs. It's neurotypical needs as well.

“Fidgets are great for providing that that sort of pressure valve while you're going through your day,” he said.

Bazzard said young people’s increased use of technology may have influenced them to buy NeeDohs.

“Technology is arguably creating a bit of an imbalance . . . that the body is craving that sensory input that it's not getting from devices.”

People do become agitated and crave that repetitive, self-regulated input that you can recieve from fidget toys like Needohs, Bazzard said.

“It’s more than a toy trend.”

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AI was used to transcribe audio from interviews for this story.