Hicks, Indianna Rose

Contributing factors

• prone sleeping position (rolled from back to stomach)
• swaddling with arms enclosed at 5 months of age (developmental stage when rolling begins)
• recent upper respiratory tract infection (rhinovirus)
• teething necklace present during sleep
• lack of documented safe sleep policies at facility
• absence of mandated supervision timeframes for sleeping infants
• possible positional asphyxiation

Coroner's recommendations

1. Approved Providers of Early Childhood Education and Care Services should ensure they have documented Sleep and Rest and Supervision policies incorporating best practice principles. SIDS and Kids safe infant sleeping recommendations and the SIDS and Kids Infant Safe Sleeping Child Care Kit for Education and Care Services could be considered as reference materials.
2. Relevant governments should give consideration to amending the National Regulations, particularly Regulations 81 and 168 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations, to require Approved Providers to have a written policy and procedure relating to Sleep and Rest based on contemporary best practice principles.
3. Public awareness should be raised that the ACCC has issued a Warning Notice concerning Amber teething necklaces on the basis they pose a strangulation and choking hazard, and if used, should be removed while sleeping during the day or night.