Baby died in bouncer left on parents’ bed

Molly Bowdery was found unconscious by her mother, Amanda Jackson, who had been asleep on the sofa in the living room of the family home.

Paramedics tried to revive Molly and she was taken to hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The inquest at Westminster coroner's court heard how Molly had been strapped into the rocker on her parents' bed. Her father, Gary Bowdery, said she had been suffering from a cold and preferred to sleep in the bouncer instead of her Moses basket. He said he went to bed at 11.30pm on 10 March without moving his daughter.

Mr Bowdery said: "Because she had had broken sleep, I didn't want to disturb her."

Deputy Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe described how the couple normally moved Molly off the bed once their three-year-old son Liam was asleep, but had not done so because she was sleeping peacefully and Ms Jackson had fallen asleep watching TV before waking up at 5am on 11 March.

As soon as she discovered her daughter lying on the bed — still strapped into the bouncer — she called paramedics to their home in Morden.

Professor Rupert Risdon, a paediatric forensic expert at Great Ormond Street Hospital, said the post mortem found no signs of injury or illness.

Dr Radcliffe recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.