After the death of an 8-month-old baby during a simple stroll in a stroller, pediatricians recall the importance of choosing a baby’s hat as well as monitoring in all circumstances.
Did you know that hats can be dangerous or even fatal for babies ? This Monday, December 18, 2023, an 8-month-old baby died during a stroll in a stroller because his 3-year-old brother accidentally pulled on the ties of his cap, causing suffocation and then respiratory arrest.
The childminder was walking with the two children and their mother when she noticed that the infant was no longer breathing. The little girl was “all white and inanimate” reports The Parisian. The emergency services who quickly arrived on the scene were unfortunately unable to revive the baby on the spot.
An investigation for “manslaughter by manifestly deliberate violation of an obligation of safety or prudence” was opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Infant suffocation: pediatricians warn about the choice of caps
This tragedy which occurred in the 15th arrondissement of Paris is a reminder of the importance of supervision when caring for a child who is not aware of the danger. In the columns of DoctissimoDr Jean-Louis Chabernaud, pediatric resuscitator, details the frequent risks that we think too little about when it comes to walking and these statements allow us to to realize that the choice of baby hat is very important.
“This case reminds me of the danger of anything that has a cord, within reach of a baby or even a slightly older child. A danger that we often see with blind cords, in living rooms. Children can play, surround themselves or even suffocate with it, without being aware of the risk. This is also the case with a necklace, or here the lace of a hat.
At the same time, pediatrician Anna Boctor says she is horrified by this news item. but above all targets the lack of supervision before “blaming” the hat. “The problem is more complex than an item, a hat, which is not suitable. Of course, above all, it is a question of using common sense and not giving anything dangerous to a child, with which he or she could choke. But we can’t make everything 100% secure in life or make parents feel guilty about every item of clothing purchased. On the other hand, we can do our best to monitor the child for whom we are responsible, by keeping him in our sight. When you go for a walk, you watch your child. What is serious here is not the cap tied under the child’s neck, it is the fact that the nanny was not vigilant enough to notice the danger.