A vigilant mom from upstate New York may have averted a tragedy when she acted swiftly after hearing her baby daughter struggling to breathe in the middle of the night. Casey Clute, aged 34, described how footage from a Nest bedroom camera captured the alarming moment her 4-month-old daughter, Madilyn, began choking after spitting up while asleep. The incident occurred at roughly 12:30 a.m.
Casey explained to Newsweek that her natural parental caution played a role, as she constantly worries about her children’s safety. With her husband Joshua, 30, at work, she was alone in charge, also caring for their 3-year-old daughter Charlotte. She said, ‘Something in me told me to wake up. I heard her gasping for air and jumped up immediately.’
Sharing the footage in a TikTok clip, Casey demonstrated her quick response, grabbing Madilyn’s armpit and realizing the choking situation. Fortunately, her CPR training was crucial. ‘I placed her face down on my chest and quickly patted her back to clear the airway,’ Casey recounted. She wrote that her maternal instincts were truly ‘tested’ during this crisis.
After ensuring Madilyn’s breathing was stable, Casey conducted a thorough check of the sleep area. Noticing two stuffed animals thrown in by the toddler, Casey removed them, understanding their potential danger. A 2019 study published in Pediatrics highlighted that soft bedding constituted 69 percent of infant suffocation cases reported to the U.S. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Case Registry. Researchers emphasized the importance of safer sleep environments to reduce such deaths.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to place babies on their backs for sleep on a firm, flat surface without pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, or any soft objects that might obstruct their airways. Although the immediate threat was eliminated, Casey found sleep elusive afterward, feeling grateful she was awake to intervene.
The incident also influenced future plans for their daughter’s sleeping arrangements. With maternity leave ending, Casey had intended to move Madilyn to her own room, or possibly share a room with her older sister, to align with her work schedule. However, she opted to keep the baby in the parents’ bedroom due to newfound caution. Casey reflected, ‘This event has taught me that no matter how prepared you are, things can change instantly. If she had been in another room, she might have choked to death. We will keep her with us to be safe.’
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