Parenting
Toddler Crib-Surfing: Just a Typical Child, Not Possessed
by Jamie Thompson
Updated: November 9, 2020
Originally Published: April 3, 2016
In today’s world, video monitors are a godsend for parents, allowing them to keep an eye on their little ones without being right there in the room. They’re intended to provide reassurance, letting us check in on our kids while we handle adulting tasks in another space. However, as the recent experience of the Smith family shows, these devices can sometimes lead to surprises.
David and Lisa Smith were left stunned after reviewing footage from their nanny cam, which captured their son, Jake, scaling his crib and riding it like a pro surfer—if that surfer were a mischievous little imp. The video featured Jake growling and his eyes looking unnaturally bright, leading some viewers to dub him “possessed.” Check out the eerie footage here.
On one hand, I have to admire the kid’s impressive balance. On the other hand, it’s a little unsettling—what’s going on here? Parents don’t need video evidence of their kids’ wild antics; we witness it firsthand every day. But the Smiths’ late-night footage of Jake pulling a stunt worthy of a movie has sparked rumors of supernatural possession. I’ll bet those making such claims don’t have children themselves.
I didn’t use a video monitor with my first child, but I’ve got one for my second. Just two months in, I’m already questioning that choice. While I haven’t seen my baby straddling his crib and growling like a character from a horror film, I have seen enough suspense movies to jump at the chance of glancing at my baby staring right at me through the camera—watching, judging, and, yes, pooping.
I never jump to the conclusion that my kids are possessed because let’s face it: kids themselves are often enough to give us a fright. Every parent knows the jolt of waking up to see a small face peering at them from the side of the bed in the darkness. The Smiths can relate to this experience.
According to reports, David Smith acknowledges that while the footage is “100 percent real,” his son isn’t possessed. He explains that the glowing eyes are merely a trick of the camera’s night vision. Sure thing, David.
Possessed or not, if I were these parents, I’d be exploring sponsorship opportunities. My five-year-old can’t even display that level of coordination during daylight hours, let alone in the dark at 2 AM. They might be sitting on a goldmine! At the very least, energy drink companies should be knocking on their door.
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In summary, the Smith family’s footage of their toddler’s crib-surfing adventure might seem alarming, but it’s just another day in the life of parenting. Kids are full of surprises, and sometimes those surprises can be a bit spooky—without needing any supernatural explanations.