Baby boy born on Christmas Day died while sleeping in a pod on his parents’ bed, inquest hears
Baby boy born on Christmas Day died at just four months old while sleeping in a pod on his parents’ bed, study finds
- Leonidas Ramsden was found unconscious at his home in Buckfastleigh, Devon
A baby boy born on Christmas Day died after being placed in a sleeping pod on his parents’ bed, an inquest has found.
Little Leonidas Ramsden was just four months old when he was found unconscious at his home in Buckfastleigh, Devon, on April 28 last year.
At a hearing on Thursday, he was told he was “fed and placed in a sleeping pod on top of his parents’ bed before becoming unresponsive several hours later.”
There are no suspicious circumstances and an autopsy could not determine the cause of death.
It is not yet known what type or brand of sleeping pod Leonidas was placed in on the night he died.
Little Leonidas Ramsden (pictured) was found unconscious at his home in Buckfastleigh, Devon, on April 28 last year when he was just over four months old.
Four years before his death in 2017, Tesco and Mothercare were among a string of UK retailers who stopped selling the products over safety concerns.
They are still widely available on Amazon.
In an earlier warning to parents, the children’s charity, the Lullaby Trust, wrote in an open letter: “Items such as cushioned sleeping pods, nests, baby hammocks, cot bumpers, pillows, duvets and anything that clamps or tethers a baby in place , may pose a risk to babies under 12 months.
“There is some evidence that a baby sleeping on anything other than a firm, flat surface or using soft, heavy bedding may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
“They can lead to overheating or potentially block a baby’s airway if they roll over or their face gets covered by loose bedding.”
A spokesperson for The Lullaby Trust previously said: ‘As a SIDS charity, we have watched with concern as products that go against safer sleep advice gain popularity.
“It’s difficult for parents when 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 recognized brand, it’s safe for their baby.” ‘
Leonadis’ young mother Akita wrote one heartbreaking call for funds to help pay for a memorial in the wake of her son’s death last year.
She said, “We are devastated and lost, feeling stuck in a reality that shouldn’t exist. We will never feel complete again.
‘I am 21 years old. I 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 off into his sleep with a little sweet smile on his face.
‘The moment me and my partner woke up after a few hours of sleep. We had to face the most reality-baffling and horrifying realization… that Leonidas-Aurelius, the perfect soul, had left the beautiful ship we had made.”
She added: “Leo had the most beautiful low notes in his voice and he loved the sound of it.. he always showed off his beautiful coos, but most of all he loved to roar.
“If you held his hands, he held on and lifted himself up… Always smiling and with his head held high. He was such a beautiful face… 4 months and 3 days showering him with love and kisses were the best moments of my life.’
A full judicial inquiry will be held at a later date.