Parents of baby who died after choking at Kent nursery 'assumed' food would be pureed

The parents of a nine-month-old baby who choked to death at a nursery had "assumed" that the staff would puree his food, as he was "nowhere near being able to chew" properly, an inquest has been told.

Oliver Steeper passed away in hospital in September 2021, six days after the choking incident at Jelly Beans Day Nursery in Ashford, Kent.

On the day of the incident, his mother had attempted to remind the nursery staff about Oliver's inability to eat solid foods but was hesitant to "rock the boat", the inquest heard.

READ MORE: Map shows where in Kent suspected whooping cough cases are after five babies die

READ MORE: Kent drivers set for another week of M2 closures plus A2, M20 and M25 works

At home, the little boy, who only had two front teeth, was accustomed to eating pureed meals, and his parents had been reassured by nursery workers that they could blend solids for him, according to what was said at the inquest.

However, concerns arose when Oliver's parents discovered "chunks" of pineapple in his vomit and had planned to reiterate to the nursery staff that their son was not ready for solid foods, Zoe Steeper, Oliver's mother, explained during her testimony at Oakwood House in Maidstone.

During a trial session at the nursery with his mother present, baby Oliver was given some pear, but he "didn't really know what to do with it" and just "squished it between his fists", the jury inquest was informed.

"The majority of his food at home was purees," Mrs Steeper stated while giving evidence.

Mrs Steeper and Lewis Steeper, Oliver's father, had been assured by the nursery that Oliver's food could be blended, the inquest was told.

"We assumed that food would be pureed," Mrs Steeper said. "He wasn't able to chew, that made us extra cautious."

Mr and Mrs Steeper had chosen to send their son to the Jelly Beans Day Nursery for two half-days a week because it was only 20 minutes from their home, and it "felt like a family run nursery", the jury heard.

When baby Oliver was unwell, and his parents found "chunks" of pineapple in his vomit, the couple "wondered how he had managed to eat it".

Mrs Steeper continued: "He had been given fruit salad at nursery, it was clear it wasn't pureed."

"I said I was going to speak to the nursery the following week."

Mrs Steeper had considered emailing the nursery immediately, but she did not want to "rock the boat" or make staff feel she was "being pushy", jurors were told.

Describing the moment she tried to raise the issue with staff in person while dropping Oliver off the following week, she said: "I felt rushed because I was dropping him off late."

"The lady I gave him to seemed rushed. Another child was holding her leg."

Later that morning, Mrs Steeper, who was working in a fire brigade control centre at the time, received a call from the nursery to say her son had been "involved in an accident and had choked on his lunch", the inquest heard.

When she arrived at the nursery, Mrs Steeper saw a young paramedic running with her son in his arms while doing chest compressions, she told the inquest.

Baby Oliver was quickly taken to hospital, but brain scans indicated that he would not make it, and he tragically passed away six days later.

Kent Police looked into the incident, but no further action was taken. The inquest is anticipated to continue for two weeks.