A BABY suffocated to death after a nappy bag was blown over her face during a windy night, an inquest heard.

Three-month-old Ruby Williams, from Banbury, would probably have died in her sleep, Oxfordshire assistant coroner Alison Thompson said on Thursday.

She was found on the morning of Saturday, February 15 by her mum Dawn Williams, while the window next to her cot was said to be broken and impossible to shut.

Ms Williams, who was told by the coroner she could not have done anything, had been on a night out the previous evening while Ruby and her older brother were left in the care of babysitter Niamh Anderson.

Miss Anderson told the inquest the nappy bags had been left on the changing table next to the cot and she remembered there was one that was loose.

She left when Ms Williams returned home at about 1am, with Ruby asleep.

Ms Williams cried as Miss Thompson described how Ruby, who had had a cold, was found at 8.45am with the plastic bag covering her mouth and nose. It is believed she died at some point during the night. DC Steven Gilks, of the child abuse and investigation unit, attended the scene but said there was no evidence of foul play.

Miss Thompson said: “This was an accident. It wasn’t something that could have been reasonably foreseen by anyone.

“There’s no blame or fault attached to it.

“I can’t be certain as to exactly what happened but I’m satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the nappy bag played a part in her death.”

She recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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