My little princess suffocated under a teddy bear.. don’t let the same thing happen to your baby
Cuddly toy killed Connie, 18 months
A DEVASTATED mum whose baby died after being suffocated by a teddy bear has given an emotional warning to other parents.
Dexy Walsh discovered 18-month-old daughter Connie Rose had rolled over in her bed and was lying underneath the cuddly toy.
The frantic 23-year-old immediately tried to revive the tot before paramedics arrived.
But the little girl was pronounced dead minutes later and now broken-hearted Dexy wants to warn about the danger of stuffed toys.
Dexy had filled the side of Connie Rose’s bed with teddy bears to create a cushion between her and the wall.
The mum of two said: “My life changed forever on March 6.
“My alarm went off at 8am and I got up to get my oldest daughter ready for school.
“I went into my daughter Connie’s room and found that she had passed away. There was a small gap down the side of her bed at the wall and I had packed it full of teddies to stop her falling down.
“I’d put a big teddy on the top thinking it would keep her safe and she wouldn’t fall into the gap.
“During the night, she rolled into the place where the gap would have been and ended up underneath the big bear and suffocated.
“When I found Connie Rose, I screamed for my boyfriend Murray and tried to do CPR on her.
“Murray then took over and then my mother-in-law tried as well.
“The ambulance arrived at 8.09am and they took over for two minutes which felt like two hours. But she was pronounced dead at 8.11am.”
Emotional Dexy added: “I’ve been blaming myself ever since and all I can think about now is what if I had just left it empty. I don’t want any other family to go through what we’ve had to just by making a small mistake.” She added: “My oldest daughter used to have her bed covered in cushions, teddies, princess drapes, the lot. “But the reality is they don’t need anything on their beds. “I really hope my little princess’s tragic story can save another baby’s life.” Dexy, who has posted a video on YouTube paying tribute to her daughter, added the tragedy had left everyone in her family “broken”. She said: “I miss her so much. Life is really unfair sometimes. “She was the most perfect and lovable baby and her smile could make anyone go from a really low place to a happy one in seconds. “It doesn’t seem real and I feel so lost. When I had her funeral to arrange, it took my mind off things in a way because I had stuff to do.
“Nights are the worst. I’m still not sleeping and I’m up and down all night checking that my oldest daughter is still breathing.
“I feel like I’m going to wake up and find that someone else I love has passed away. It’s really scary.”
The Lullaby Trust, a charity working to prevent unexpected infant deaths, added: “We would like to extend our condolences to the family at this difficult time.
“We advise a baby’s sleeping space is kept as clear as possible, with no pillows, duvets, soft toys or cot bumpers.
“Unnecessary items in a cot can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if a baby’s head becomes covered.”
A fundraising appeal has been launched to help buy a headstone for Connie Rose’s grave.
To donate, go to www.gofundme. com/head-stone-for-connie