Little Grace Joy Roseman died after she moved over the edge of her adjustable cot – which is specially designed to allow parents to sleep close to their baby – and a ‘safety’ ridge cut off the oxygen supply to her brain.
West Sussex Coroner’s Court heard how Grace had been placed in the £300 Bednest Bed Side crib by her mother, Esther, early in the night. When Esther returned to check on her daughter 90 minutes later, she found Grace lying with her head over the edge of the crib.
Coroner Penelope Schofield told the court that Grace died of asphyxia, having managed to get her head through a moveable panel at the side of the crib.
Ms Schofield expressed her concern over the lack of safety of the crib in question, telling the court: “In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken.”
Breaking down her safety concerns with the crib, she added: “If the cot side is not safe to be incompletely lowered or for the cot to be tilted more than 5cms, then it should be questioned as to whether these should be options available at all. In my opinion urgent action should be taken to prevent future deaths.”
The National Children’s Trust, which had endorsed the crib, has now pulled the cot from sale and stopped all orders.
This is not the first such story to emerge in recent times, with a baby tragically losing its life this year after getting tangled in bedding.
