Baby found dead in bed next to mum who’d taken cocaine in room with empty beer bottles Provider: getty

A 12-week-old baby girl was found dead next to her mum in a bedroom littered with empty beer cans and a half-empty bottle of prosecco.

Police officers found the empty containers under the bed, as well as stuffed inside the infant’s changing bag.

Toxicology reports also found the mum had taken cocaine before the incident. 

The tragedy was investigated as part of a Serious Case Review by Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership.

According to the report, the baby, given the pseudonym ‘Delilah’, was a twin who died on October 12, 2021.

The report said: ‘She had been conveyed to hospital by ambulance after her mother found Delilah face down and unresponsive in the bed in which she (mother) had been sleeping with Delilah and her twin sibling during the afternoon of that day.

Caption: Baby Boy Holding Mothers Hand
Photographer: bfk92
Provider: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto
(Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

‘Delilah’s twin sibling was unharmed. Delilah’s mother reported that she had consumed four bottles of beer the previous night and was later found to have also taken cocaine.’

The review found that the mum had been living with her parents after being subjected to a serious beating by her ex-partner, which resulted in him being sent to prison.

It later emerged that Delilah’s mum’s eldest three children had been placed under child-in-need plans by social services, and were no longer in her care.

According to the review: ‘There had been extensive children’s social care involvement with mother, her partners and their children from 2013 relating to ‘mother’s lifestyle and volatile relationships’, concerns about parental substance misuse – particularly mother’s long history of alcohol misuse, parental neglect of her elder three children relating to poor school attendance, unsatisfactory home conditions, lack of access to health services and disclosures by the children that they had been left alone.

‘There had also been concerns about mother’s mental health and her risk of self-harm and complaints of anti-social behaviour from neighbours.

‘Mother’s level of engagement with children’s social care and early help was a cause for concern throughout these years.’

However, the review found missed opportunities to provide support and identify risks while Delilah’s mum was pregnant.

Despite her previous issues, the maternal grandparents described how she appeared to be ‘coping well’ with the twins when they were born. 

According to the report: ‘Professionals who provided mother and the twins with antenatal support observed that mother appeared to have a good emotional bond with the twins and was attentive to their needs.

‘The home environment was described as ‘good’ and professionals felt that the twins appeared to be well cared for, loved and cherished. They were taken to all GP appointments. 

‘The maternal grandmother said that Delilah’s sudden death had been a terrible shock for the family.’

However, the review noted the mum had declined an offer from a health visitor to review the twins’ sleeping arrangements, which was later revealed to be a single bedside crib, considered too small for both twins.

The review noted there was a lack of understanding of mother’s own life experiences, and said weaknesses in their own practice provided opportunities for her to avoid engagement.

‘A trauma informed approach to working with the mother could have been helpful,’ they added.

The review made a series of 10 recommendations relating to pre-birth, planning for assessments and management oversight, alcohol risk identification and supported referral, domestic abuse training, child in need planning, safe sleep, and engagement with avoidant parents.

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The girl was found dead surrounded by empty beer bottles and a half-empty bottle of prosecco.