Family Voices — Jared’s Story
Jared was strangled when the top rails of his portable crib collapsed. He was eight months old.
Submitted by his mother, Pam
“On April 25th, 1997, our son Jared was killed when one of the side rails of his Evenflo Happy Camper play yard/portable crib collapsed. He became trapped in the V-shape of the collapsed rail and suffocated to death. Jared was a happy, spirited baby. He had the most beautiful blue eyes and was so full of life; you couldn’t help but to fall in love with him. We are still mourning his tragic death.
Jared was the 11th baby to die in this type of portable crib/play yard, and the 3rd victim of the Evenflo brand. The Happy Camper was finally recalled after Jared’s death, but only after continued pressure from the CPSC.
I assumed, like many other parents, that children’s products had to go through rigorous testing and follow stringent government safety standards. I also assumed that a product would not be sold if there were safety problems associated with it. I was shocked to learn that this is not the case.
Before Jared’s death, a voluntary safety standard for play yards/portable cribs with this type of design was being finalized. However, Evenflo chose to continue to sell their product “as is” — playing Russian roulette with the lives of our children and Jared lost.
Since Jared’s death, there have been eight more children who have fallen victim to the design flaw of this portable crib/play yard. I urge all parents and caregivers to discontinue using these death traps, and to report all injuries associated with children’s products immediately to the CPSC. To those parents who have lost children, my heart goes out to you and your families. God bless all of you.”
What’s Happened Since Jared’s Death?
In 2008, President Bush signed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act which required strong standards for children’s products and that all durable children’s products come with product registration cards so that the owners can learn of recalls directly from the manufacturer.
On February 28, 2013, a strong standard was put in place for all play yards or mesh-sided portable cribs. These new standards include sturdier mattress attachments, stronger corner brackets, and side rails that resist forming a sharp V when folded to prevent more strangulations like Jared’s.
While the crib that killed Jared falls under the play yard standard, the U.S. also signed into law strong standards for regular cribs. Any crib made after June 28th, 2011 will require cribs to meet tough testing standards, have improved mattress support, prohibit drop sides, and have stronger hardware and slats.
How You Can Take Action
To take action and help prevent further incidents, injuries, and deaths,
there are a number of things you can do:
- Follow the ABCs of safe sleep at every sleep time: 1) Baby is Alone and has their own separate sleep space. 2) Baby is placed to sleep on their Back, and 3) baby sleeps in a Crib, play yard or bassinet that meets the federal safety standard.
- Remove other products such as crib bumper pads, pillows, positioners, extra padding, blankets, stuffed animals, or toys from the sleep environment.
- Share KID’s safe sleep PSA.
- Report any incidents to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.
Check out our action steps for all children’s products here.
More Information on Cribs
Although mandatory standards exist for cribs, only recently has an effort been made to strengthen those standards and require testing and verification of new cribs. Because of these standards, all cribs must include proper assembly instructions and diagrams as well as cautionary and warning labels as required by federal law.
More information on Safe Sleep
A safe sleep environment is the one place parents and caregivers can place an infant and know they will be safe, even as the parent sleeps or attends to other things. Infants sleep safest following the ABC’s of safe sleep—Alone, on their Back and in a Crib, bassinet or play yard that meets federal standards and hasn’t been recalled. AAP also recommends babies sleep on a flat surface and unrestrained. Nothing should be in the crib except a firm mattress with a tight-fitting sheet.
View our safe sleep video to learn more about how to keep your baby safe while sleeping.