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As the most reliable and balanced news aggregation service on the internet, DML News App offers the following information published by DailyMail:
Parents have been warned of the risks of ‘sleeping pods’ for babies which are placed in their beds as an inquest has heard how a little boy died after being placed in one such product.
Leonidas Ramsden was just four months old when he was found unresponsive at his home in Buckfastleigh, Devon, on April 28 last year.
A hearing yesterday was told he had been ‘fed and placed in a sleeping pod upstairs on his parents’ bed’ before being found unresponsive some hours later.
There were no suspicious circumstances in Leonidas’s death, and a post mortem could not determine the cause of death.
The type or brand of sleeping pod he was in on the night he died has not been disclosed.
The Lullaby Trust, a sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) charity, issued a warning to parents, saying, “Items such as cushioned sleeping pods, nests, baby hammocks, cot bumpers, pillows, duvets and anything that wedges or straps a baby in place can pose a risk to babies under 12 months.
“Evidence shows that sleeping a baby on anything but a firm, flat surface, or using soft, heavy bedding, can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
“They can lead to overheating or potentially obstruct a baby’s airway if they roll or their face becomes covered by loose bedding.”
The bedding of concern has been made popular by bloggers and celebrities. In 2017, some British retailers stopped selling the products over to safety concerns, but they are still widely available on websites such as Amazon and John Lewis.
A spokesperson for The Lullaby Trust said: “As a SIDS charity, we have watched with concern as products that go against safer sleep advice gain popularity.
“It is hard for parents when they are trying to choose from the overwhelming number of baby products on offer and many people make the reasonable assumption that if an item is sold on the high street or made by a recognised brand it is safe for their baby.”
As for Leonadis’s mother, Akita, the loss has left her feeling incomplete, confused, and horrified.
“We are devastated and lost, feeling stuck in a reality that shouldn’t exist. We will never feel complete again,” she wrote. “I’m 21 years old. I have made two perfect, beautiful children. My daughter Azaylea and my son Leonidas-Aurelius. We fell in love the moment I met them…”
“Our son Leonidas-Aurelius was 4 months and 3 days old when he rolled over in the middle of the night while his family slept. He didn’t cry… he didn’t wake up… he just slipped away in his sleep with small sweet smile on his face.
“The moment me and my partner woke from a couple hours napping. We had to face the most reality shattering and horrific realisation… that Leonidas-Aurelius, the perfect soul had left the beautiful vessel we had created.”
“Leo had the most beautiful low tones to his voice and he loved the sound of it,” the grieving mother shared. “He was always showing off his lovely cooing sounds but most of all he loved to roar.
“When you held his hands he would hold on and lift himself into the air… Always smiling and holding his head high. He was such a beautiful sight… 4 months and 3 days of showering him in love and kisses was the best moments of my life.”
The Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests the following for babies:
- An infant should sleep is on a firm, flat surface such as that in a crib;
- Parents and caregivers should use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers or other items;
- Infants should always be placed to sleep on their back;
- Infants who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a safe sleep environment.
Soft, squishy material could make your little one too hot or it could cover a baby’s mouth and nose if they’re pressed against it. That’s why we advise against using pods and nests (softer/cushioned type of sleep surface that are sometimes used alone or as well as a mattress). pic.twitter.com/lruF54a3Ud
— The Lullaby Trust (@LullabyTrust) June 5, 2023
Put your baby on their back for every sleep, day and night. This is one of the most protective actions you can take to ensure your baby is sleeping as safely as possible as evidence shows it significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). pic.twitter.com/TpWtLnJiqI
— The Lullaby Trust (@LullabyTrust) May 25, 2023
Sleeping pods and baby nests 'pose a risk' to newborns https://t.co/v3FY9m85U2 pic.twitter.com/t8VojNL0ox
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) June 9, 2023
To get more information about this article, please visit DailyMail.
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