Four-month-old baby boy died while sleeping in pod on parents' bed, inquest hears
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Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe
A fourth-month-old baby boy died while sleeping in a pod on his parents' bed, an inquest has heard.
Leonidas Ramsden, born on Christmas Day 2021, was found unresponsive at his home in Buckfastleigh, Devon, on 28 April 2022.
His family have been looking for answers ever since his tragic death, and now an inquest has finally given these much-needed answers.
The inquest in Plymouth said they had been told Leonidas was "fed and placed in a sleeping pod upstairs on his parents' bed."
His parents found him unresponsive the next morning, with the inquest stating there are no suspicious circumstances.
A post-mortem could also not determine a cause of death.
While this inquest provided some answers for Leonidas' family, a full inquest at a later date will hopefully provide the family with all the answers they require.
It is not known what type of sleeping pod or brand Leonidas was sleeping in, as concerns around them rise.
In 2017, Tesco and Mothercare were among a bunch of British retailers to stop selling sleeping pods due to safety concerns.
Mainstream children's charity the Lullaby Trust issued a warning to parents in an open letter, in which it read: "Tems 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."
Following Leonidas' death, his mother, Akita, launched a GoFundMe to help pay for a memorial.
On the page, she spoke about how 'devastated and lost' she was after losing her son.
She said: "We are devastated and lost, feeling stuck in a reality that shouldn't exist. We will never feel complete again. 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."
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