Toddler's neck became trapped; 20,000 kits affected by recall
Article Source: msnbc.com
from:msnbc.comPlay yard tents recalled after child's death
Seeded on Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:17 AM EDT (msnbc.com)
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It would be nice if you would show a picture of the tent so we would be familiar with what to look for.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10303.html Link for picture of recalled item.
I hope that the state intends to prosecute the parents for gross negligence, obviously they didn't watch their kid. Who in their right mind lets a 2 year old play unsupervised other than parents too into themselves playing on facebook all day? I'm glad that the tent manufacturer is taking responsibility for the faulty clips, but the state needs to take responsibility and make an example out of these bad parents.
Really, gross negligence? This was a tragic accident where the child was sleeping in the play yard and woke before the parents did. There are children out there that are very quiet when they wake up. My neice has often been awake in her pack-n-play without me realizing it, she wakes up and just sits there, or stands up and holds onto the side waiting for someone to walk by before she makes any sounds. I can't even begin to count the number of times she has scared the daylights out of me when I have walked through the bedroom to the bathroom and she has squealed right as I got next to the pack-n-play.
I think you are way out of line on attacking these parents! This is the kind of thing that you hope never happens and if it does as parent you would blame yourself enough. I think the company should take the responsibility for this, because a lot of these products are created for one thing and that is how much is made on them. They do not look at the safety of them and they certainly do not test them out properly.
give me a break, you sir are an idiot. children are children they tend to get out of sight on occasion. This is a tragedy and should be treated as such. THe company did not create this item to kill children they created it because they thought it would be fun. i can't believe it took them two years to recall the product if the problem was the tent.
I don't know about the parents in this story, but I know many parents (myself included) who have used play yards as portable cribs when traveling - not as play pens. Again, it doesn't give any specifics in this story, but I wonder if the child had been left napping, and got his head stuck after waking up. I know very few parents who remain in the room with a sleeping toddler during the whole nap.
My nieces and nephew always sleep in a pack-n-play while at my house. I don't have any cats so I have never had one of the tents, but I can certainly see the reason for one being used.
I can't believe a parent would post such a comment, unless you are a blessed person who has never experienced an accident of any sort. May your life and the lives of your family continue without incident but please respect that you don't know anyones elses situation and consider the feelings of other human beings who have experienced the worse of all tragedies, the loss of a child.
Really getting tired of everything being recalled for one accident. It is the gene pool being cleansed. The 2 year old shouldn't have been left alone to play.
Most likely these parents were actually doing the responsible thing - putting a cover on their pack and play while their child napped so that an animal couldn't get in and possibly sufficate the child. How awful that something like this happened to what appear to me to be responsible parents. Perhaps those who view them differently should keep it to themselves rather than making a tragic event even worse.
I am with bbcatz below. Cats suffocating children is urban legend.
I have one of these in my house. It's not made for a two year old. Sounds to me like the parents were trying to keep the child from climbing out...again. And another child paid the ultimate price for poor parenting. It's always easier to blame someone else isn't it?
I do feel bad for the parents, but not bad enough to blame the maker of the bug screen.
This is tragic. But certainly not the manufacturer or retail stores' fault. What person in their right mind leaves a 2-year-old child unattended long enough for this to happen? Someone was using it as a babysitter, not a toy. For those of you who think the child might have been napping? It also wasn't sold as a sleeper or naptime gadget. It was sold as a play tent as in being awake and playing in it. Again, using it for something it wasn't intended for.
Might I suggest being aware of what a product is prior to making such accusations?
These play yards, or pack-n-plays are indeed marketed for sleeping, this is why many of them have a bassinet attachment. My children slept in them prior to being moved to a regular crib because they were too big for a traditional bassinet.
I am so sorry about this tragic event. But what animal would and could suffocate a small toddler while napping? What country do you live in Irishmummy?
Actually, Sherrysue, Irishmummy has a valid point. A cat is well known to potentially be a suffocation hazard to small children & infants. We are not talking about 3rd world countries either.
Its true they are attracted to the warmth of the babies breath it is the same thing that draws cats to crawl up to the laptop. Families with cats can take trainging classes to help them adjust their cat to the new baby.
Not just domesticated cats have been known but ferrets bought as pets have been known to gnaw on babies faces. This happens everywhere. I feel very sorry for those parents. I can't believe anyone would even suggest they be prosecuted. It's the company's responsibilty to ensure these products are safe for the intended user, which would be a baby in this case, not the parents. Estrada - you are extremely judgemental and ignorant. I hope you have a horrible day. Those parents have to live without their child for the rest of their life.
Gross negligence? Wow...obviously you don't have children! Parents are looked upon quite harshly nowdays, G*d forbid you ever have to go to the bathroom or take a shower when your kids are around!!! Get a clue please!
Those of you blaming the parents? IDIOTS! Many times I left my sleeping/awake child so that I could use the bathroom or take a shower. What else are you supposed to do? Wake them up from nap-time so you can poop?
This was a horrible accident, and we need to stop blaming everyone. ESPECIALLY these poor parents, I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose a child in this way.
Elizabeth, I beg to differ. Maybe you don't have any kids, but a play yard is actually very much intended as a portable crib... We had one for my son when he was a baby, and that's all he did in there, SLEEP. It even comes with a detachable changing table, most of the time. It's tragic this happened, but I'm certainly not blaming the parents. My 2-year-old son is still taking his naps in one at his daycare. I considered getting a cover for it to keep our cats out, but decided against it, since they never tried jumping in.
I am so sorry about this tragic event. But what animal would and could suffocate a small toddler while napping? What country do you live in Irishmummy?
Sherry, cats are known to snuggle up to a child, possibly suffocating it... Not intentionally trying to hurt it, they just like the warmth. This usually applies more to small infants though, they wouldn't do much harm to a toddler.
@sherry
yes cats and sometimes dogs love to cuddle up to something warm suffocating them ..and also they love the smell of milk on the babys mouth and have been known to suck the life out of an infant....
can't explain that one...
I'm pretty sure no domestic cat has ever sucked the life out of an infant... Please show me proof that this has happened.
Uninsured - the sucking the breath out of an infant is an urban legend rooted on past hysteria, cats were blamed for killing children that were actually victims of SIDS, most often because a cat may have tried licking the milk off the babies mouth.
No one talks about the "life sucking.... blah blah blah..."
For one, a baby can suffocate on any fluffy toy, pillow, loose blanket (that grandma may have made for it), the "bumper" padding for around the inside rim of the crib (that so many stores still sell), etc. That is why no such objects should ever be left alone near awake or asleep baby or even near a young child by responsible caregivers. An animal that likes to cuddle and be petted poses even greater danger than inanimate objects do. Only utter moron would argue otherwise. Here is an example: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A05E7DE1630E733A25756C1A9669D946897D6CF
One other point should also be considered – any creature that cleans own arse with its tongue poses a gross hygiene issues in any household, babies present or not. Granted, there are many so called pet lovers that cohabit with their animals. However that doesn't mean the life styles of such freaks must be imitated...
An incomplete newspaper article from October 1909 does not qualify as a valid example to support your theory.
M.C. - I am not sure of your post was directed at me or uninsured. If it was directed at me, I never said pets do not pose a suffocation threat to children, I was simply stating that the cats sucking the breath out of babies is an urban legend.
Yes, it is very easy for a pet to suffocate a baby as many pets are in the habit of sleeping on their owners and are incapable of understanding why it is okay to sleep on an adult and not a child.
In regards to your belief that pets pose hygiene issues, so long as you don't allow your pet to lick yourself, your children, or anything else in the house, I fail to see how they pose a hygiene issue. Do you know how few people actually wash their hands after going to the bathroom? You are far more endangered by the lack of hygiene of a human than that of a pet.
I remember the story, they were travelling and the child was sleeping in the portable crib at a hotel with the tent to prevent him from climbing out. Actually, I don't recall the story mentioning a tent specifically.
A very sad story.
I agree with Irishmummy, I bought this tent 4 months ago for my daughter. We have a cat who likes to sleep on you at night we did not want the cat to get into her playpen. If yu look up the play tent the picture shows a cat on top. So Irishmummy is not out of line, you are. Use your head and dont be rude.
Why must we put blame? The Lord gives and the Lord takes. LIVE TO THE MAX,LOVE EVEN MORE! life is short dont spend it being angry or sad. We miss our Lost loved ones sure, rest knowing one day we will all be reunited! God JEHOVAH promised us that. remember?
WTF! Blame the parents. People please stop smoking your shoes. You can not watch a child 24/7. People have to sleep, poop, shower and other things. The only thing you can do is make sure your as safe as possible. I had something like this not on the travel yard but the crib because my daughter liked to get out while we slept when she was a year old and wonder the house. The house was baby proof but we did not want her to knock her block off trying to get out of the crib since she was way too small for a toddler bed but an expert climber. These things with children happen only in a split second and yes you could be standing right there! My daughter slip off the bed and crack her head on the table and I was standing right there! All you can do if the best you can and be as safe as you can but in the end sometimes it is not enough. My heart goes out to the parents as this is a horrible loss.
Sing it Kendra! Sad and sometimes tragic things happen to kids even when they are being supervised. My 3 yr old pulled my baby's arm out of the socket the other day. Baby holding rattle, 3 yr old ran by and grabbed it out of her hand...pulling her arm out of the socket. You can't supervise 24/7/365! You can't even trust people that are paid to help/save/watch your kids. We were at a pool with SIX lifeguards the other day, the stupid lifeguard just stood there and watched as my 3-yr old's head bobbed in and out of the water. I was watching her, (thankfully) and jumped in the pool and almost took the lifeguard out while grabbing my daughter and pulling her out. Those that are blaming the parents obviously aren't parents! My heart goes out to this family, my heart aches for them.
What a horrible story. My heart aches for the parents.
I am a mother who lost my 3.5 month old daughter in 2007 when she rolled onto her face in her crib and I can't help but feel so angry by comments on here blaming the parents, accusing them of some sort of neglect. I am sorry, but the vast majority of parents love their children to death and would die for them, but there is no way to be there 100% of the time, watching their every breath and every move. I have tried it after the birth of my second daughter and it just isn't possible!! We are all guilty of not paying attention at one time or another, so don't fool yourself in thinking you're perfect. Losing a child can happen to ANYONE! Feel for these parents, don't criticize them.
How dare anyuone criticize these poor parents! As many people have stated, most use pack and plays as portable cribs. And you are either lying or nuerotic if you can say you sit and watch your two year old sleep. In fact, my two year old is sleeping in his rrom as we speak. That does not make me negligent or irresponsible by not sitting in his room watching him. Unless yoou are the parent of this child, you have no idea of the circumstances that lead up tp this terrible accident. This has to be the hardest thing in the world to deal with, and we should all be praying for this family instead of criticizing them. It just sounds cruel and ignorant. Have a heart.
Such a calamity! How tragic! When will this all end? Will we EVER have a day when all products are manufactured safe to the extent that ANY child that can crawl over to ANY product that cannot possibly harm it in any way? That a parent can trust to the extent that they can leave a toddler alone with it for any length of tim e,do ANYTHING with it,unobserved at any/all time,& not have to worry about any potential dangers at all? What we need are some "no adult supervision or observation ever required" built in to all product laws! Better yet,get rid of private enterprise,let Gov't do all the manufacturing( because everyone knows THEY are the knowledgeable experts,& only THEY possess the requisite skills & knowledge to produce such products! In a word,Socialism would more adequately protect the people. All knowledge is retained in Gov't---Just ask ANY politician-They have all the answers! No one should have the time consuming,dreary task of "adult supervision of their own children-That's child product manufacturers responsibility! One tragedy begets another!
I think the key words here are "FOUND DEAD" not "died as a result of" and no you can not watch your children 24/7 but your children are your responsibility to watch over and care for and maybe I am wrong as there are no details but if they left a 2 year old alone long enough to FIND it dead they need to be prosecuted for negligence. I know if my kids ever get quiet for even 2 seconds I go looking for what mischief they are getting into.
@mrsdjd If what you recall is true that they were in a hotel thats even worse because who in their right mind ever leaves a 2 year old alone in an automatically locking room in a strange place for ANY amount of time?
Other key words are "Play yard" not "Sleep yard"
The child was sleeping, do you really check on your child every 2 seconds if they are quiet in their sleep? Being as the child was sleeping, I would guess it is a very strong possibility that the parents were also sleeping.
As for the whole play yard versus sleep yard, they are marketed as traveling cribs, not just play yards.
I too agree with the previous commenter. It is almost common sense that a cat can smother a baby or toddler while napping. All my cats sleep on me, my last cat would sleep on my husbands face. When I was pregnant my mom took my cat not only because of the litter issues (could be hazardous to fetus) but also so the cat wouldn't get into the crib with the babies. I got my cat back when he was older and I could be more vigilant. The third child we were able to make sure the kittens were in a different room (First child I lived in a studio apartment) with the door shut while baby napped or slept. Heck even the pediatrician warned us of cat suffocating babies when all three children were little. Cats like warmth and like the heartbeat. If a cat sleeps on you at night they will love babies especially with formula drooling down their mouths.
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=531755
I guess the kid managed to squeeze his head between the tent and the upper rail. I wouldn't have guessed that was even possible. I guess Cozy Products didn't either.
Very sad.
@Lensil. So if god forbid, my son is found dead laying 2' away from me as WE sleep in any room, I should be prosecuted for gross negligence? Think about it. He doesn't have to be in a separate area of the room or hotel for me to sleep and wake up to find him dead. I could be sleeping within 2' of his pack and play and still may wake to find him dead.
It's easy to put blame on the parents, but most people don't co-sleep with their child. Therefore, their child is in a separate bed from them. That means while I sleep, I am not watching my child 100%, in fact, while I sleep, I'm not watching my child at all. Imagine that. In fact, while you sleep, you're not watching your child at all either. So if you awake walk into your child's room or just look over into your child's crib/packnplay/bed and not only is she not moving but she's blue, according to you, you have just killed your own child due to your gross negligence? So those babies that die of SIDS because they rolled over have also committed gross negligence? Guess the parent wasn't watching the kids enough huh?
It's 100% impossible to watch a child all the time, including when they sleep. It's 100% impossible to predict what might happen, given what you do, what your child does, or what is around them. You can try, you can spend hours thinking about it, but they think differently and things respond differently.
The guilt the parents have, the thoughts of their child being gone, the idea that their child will never feel, grow, smile, and be there is enough pain for a parent that left their child 'unattended' in the pack n play only to see him the next time blue and unresponsive. Bury your child, then you can talk about what they should be blamed for.
Turtles, you are absolutely correct. I would imagine there is not a day that goes by in which these parents do not blame themselves for the loss of their child, regardless of how a child dies, the parents will always blame themselves. I have a friend whose 10 month old had a virus that attacked his heart, there were no warning signs, the child was perfectly healthy, until his heart stopped beating. His parents blame themselves every single day, even though there is absolutely no way they could have known, in fact, the guilt is so bad that within a year of it happening they were divorced.
@Lensil - Wow, next time your kid falls down and breaks his/her leg, you take them to the Dr...(hopefully) I hope the cops don't knock on the exam room door and arrest you for gross negligence....nevermind you were right there at the park with them watching their every move. Think before you open your mouth/keyboard!
There is a HUGE difference in being right there when your child falls and hurts themselves and being unable to prevent it or your child dieing from SIDS in his or her sleep and leaving your child unattended in a product marked with warnings about leaving a child alone inside it long enough to come back to a dead child!
And there is a HUGE difference between walking away from your child long enough to come back and find dead and sleeping in a room next to your child in a portable crib and waking to find them dead. Yes, these play yards are intended to be used as portable cribs.
I agree that the loss of a child is a tragedy, however, I think it's insane to say that the company is should bear the full brunt of the blame. For those who feel that the parents should not take some responsibility, please take a moment to look for the manufacturers warnings: " NEVER leave child unattended unless tent is securely attached to playard & completely zipped. Total structural integrity is only acheived when tent is secured properly and completely zipped."..." Use according to instructions - to be used with (NOT IN PLACE OF) parental supervision."..."Check all hook and loop fasteners each and every time your Cozy Portable Playard Tent is in use."..."NOT to be used as punishment." Every one of these statements are listed on the 2 page installation and use instructions provided by this manufacturer. I've seen these products in use and, if installed properly, there is no way a child could unfasten the tent and slip their head through. Lax parenting invades everyday life, but does not give anyone the right to make accusations without having the full story.
Considering the item is being recalled because children are able to remove the fasteners your entire post is irrelevant. This child was not left unattended, the net was not being used to detain or punish the child. It was being used as was intended while both the parents and child were sleeping.