According to CPSC, in 2009 alone there have been an estimated 1,900 injuries among children under the age of five due to playpens/ play yards. Based on 2005-2007 data, CPSC estimates that the average number of deaths due to playpens is 10 per year. Some products are called play yards or portable cribs interchangeably, so review the hazards from the portable crib page as well.
Since 2007, nearly 2 million play yards have been recalled, involving 1,762 incident reports and 3 deaths.
A recall or a corrective action had been issued for play yards for various reasons including:
- Risk of serious injury or death if mis-assembled
- Choking or entanglement hazards
- Head entrapment or suffocation
- Risk of injury from tipping when legs on the product become loose and separate
- Plastic tabs that lock playpen rails into the corners can break or loosen, allowing rails to turn inward, collapse, and entrap an infant
More Information on Play Yards
Danny’s Story
On May 12, 1998, 16-month-old Daniel Keysar was strangled to death at his licensed childcare facility when a Playskool Travel-Lite portable crib collapsed, trapping his neck in the “V” of its folded rails.
Aiden’s Story
Aiden suffocated on the crib bumper pad in his crib. He was six months old. "My beloved grandson was literally the light of my life."
Ellie’s Story
Ellie died when the changing table attachment on a play yard came down on the back of her neck as she stood up. She was thirteen months old.
Liam’s Story
Liam died when he was entrapped by the defective drop-side of his crib. He was nine months old.
Jared’s Story
Jared was strangled when the top rails of his portable crib collapsed. He was eight months old.
Riley’s Story
Riley was strangled when the side rail of her portable crib collapsed around her neck. She was 10 months old.
Ethan’s Story
Ethan died just months after Riley when he was strangled in the same type portable crib. He was eight months old.