Mom Speaks Against Bottle Propping After Baby Dies

Jan 22, 2019 by apost team

Parenting is tough. While we all do our best to keep our children safe and healthy, sometimes we get burned out.

In those moments, we try to do what we can to get through the day. But sometimes, things can go wrong. This harrowing tale shows the importance of avoiding bottle propping at all costs.

Chloe Masters was the mother to a beautiful four-month-old baby boy named Alex, that she lost in 2015 due to bottle propping.

Though the death was and still is tragic, Masters wasn't alerted to the cause of the death until recently. Chloe now wants to share what she learned with the rest of the world: Alex died after choking on milk from the bottle that was propped in his mouth.

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During 2015, Masters was dealing with severe back pain. Leaving Alex in his godmother's care, Masters spent the night recovering.

What happened when Masters returned was something no parent should ever have to endure. When she questioned the godmother about Alex's death, the godmother responded by saying that Alex was given a bottle and then she had fallen asleep. However, it was at the hearing that everyone learned the truth of what happened that day.

The godmother left her godson in his car seat, with his bottle propped up and a blanket. 30 minutes later, she awoke to the terrible scene: Alex was leaning over the car seat. He wasn't breathing and the blanket was covering his face.

Somehow, Alex was still alive, but he was pronounced dead at England's Lincoln County Hospital. The postmortem exam showed that his death was caused by the milk he had inhaled. Masters is devastated and is doing all that she can to show parents that it is never okay to prop a baby with a bottle.

Her warning is crucial. Choking is possible if the baby falls asleep before the bottle is finished. Though the parent may bottle prop with the expectation that the baby will finish feeding before doing anything else, this isn't always the case. If the baby breathes in the liquid after they've fallen asleep, there is a possibility that it will go into the wrong tube.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, someone should always be vigilantly watching the baby as they are feeding. The potential dangers of bottle propping unattended are far too great. In addition to choking, bottle propping can increase the risk of developing ear infections and similar complications.

This mother warned, "Never, ever, ever, bottle prop under any circumstances. You could be put in this situation with your own child. I did it and thought it would never cause anything like this, and I was supervising. But people can lose concentration."

If you are a parent to a small child, please heed this warning! Instead of bottle propping, always take the time to carefully feed your child. For parents, this is a crucial time to bond with your child. 

Let us know your thoughts about bottle propping by leaving a comment below. Make sure to pass this along to any new moms you know!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your doctor. Your health is important to us!