Nanny suspected of sedating infant with antihistamine before tragic death

An eight-week-old baby from West London died after his night nanny "probably" administered a sedating antihistamine to help him sleep, according to a coroner’s inquest.

The infant was discovered unresponsive in his crib at approximately 6:15 a.m. on 15 January 2024. Despite the administration of CPR, he was tragically declared dead 45 minutes later.

A subsequent toxicology report revealed the presence of chlorpheniramine, a sedating allergy medication, in the child's system.

The court concluded the nanny likely used the drug to sedate the baby, who had been described as "unsettled and fussy."

The inquest, released on 25 March, highlighted a series of catastrophic failures by the Metropolitan Police. Because the family home appeared "well-presented," officers initially ruled out neglect or injury and failed to search the premises or seize feeding bottles.

This lack of immediate action meant that by the time the nanny was interviewed in October 2024, all forensic opportunities to link her to the medication had been lost.

Consequently, the court found itself unable to file criminal charges to the required legal standard, leaving the suspect free to continue her employment.

The coroner has now issued a formal warning to prevent future deaths, noting that the nanny remains registered with two agencies and continues to work with children.

The report criticised the "perfunctory" nature of the initial police examination and urged authorities to consider the potential role of poisoning in sudden infant deaths.

This case follows similar international incidents where caregivers have faced lengthy prison sentences for the lethal administration of sedating medications to infants in their care.