Mom hears baby stop crying, then she checks security cam

A Florida mom of two was surprised to discover her 3-week-old daughter lying on the couch. It wasn’t until she reviewed her security camera footage that she realized, to her horror, what had happened.

Jessica Fortner, her 2-year-old son Greyson, and her daughter Everleigh were staying with a friend when the nerve-shredding incident occurred.

“That morning was just like any other since having our daughter,” Fortner told Newsweek. “My man was out of town working, and I was solo parenting, which was pretty normal.”

How Did The Baby End Up On The Couch?

Everleigh was asleep in her bassinet, which had a zip-up mesh cover over it, while Greyson was otherwise occupied. Fortner went to the bathroom.

“I heard a little fussing from Everleigh, but it stopped pretty quickly, and I didn’t think much of it because she’s always been a very happy baby,” she said.

When she returned to the living room, Fortner was surprised to find Everleigh on the couch. It didn’t take her long to realize what had happened.

“My son had somehow unzipped the bassinet and taken her out not long after I had gone into the bathroom,” she said.

How he had managed to carry her over to the couch, however, was a mystery.

Security Camera Reveals All

Fortunately, a security camera had been set up in the corner of the living room. Fortner decided to review the recorded footage to see what had happened.

Parents today are increasingly turning to in-home security cameras to keep a closer eye on their children.

A recent survey of 2,000 U.S. parents conducted by OnePoll on behalf of technology solutions company Asurion found that 59 percent have a Wi-Fi-enabled camera installed in their home.

The study also found that 76 percent of parents use smart technology such as security cameras and video doorbells to help keep an eye on their children and keep them safe.

While Fortner may have been glad to have security camera footage to review after finding her daughter out of her bassinet, the recording did not make for easy viewing.

It showed Greyson carrying Everleigh across the room.

Fortner can still recall how she felt when she first watched the footage.

“It was very much me holding my breath the entire time I was watching him carry her, hoping he wouldn’t drop her,” she said. “Then, when he got her to the couch safely, I was relieved. It was a mix of pride that he loved her enough to try to help her and horror at the fact that he wasn’t supporting her head and neck.”

Feelings About The Video Have Changed

Greyson didn’t talk very much at the time, but when Fortner asked him what he was doing, he did have an answer: “I help Sissy.”

In the time since, Fortner’s feelings about the video have changed considerably.

“It was one of those things that, as time went on, wasn’t so scary anymore, and I started showing it to friends and family, saying, ‘Look at this. You’ll never believe what Grey did,'” she said.

She ultimately decided to share the clip and the story behind it as a reminder that “kids are unpredictable.”

“They’ll do anything they can to be mischievous, and no matter how good or attentive a parent you are, unpredictable things happen. As scary as it is, it’s also a core family memory that will be told forever.”

Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.