Baby who choked may have had non-pureed food - mum

Oliver Steeper's mother, Zoe, fought back tears as she told an inquest how a paramedic tried to save his life

A mother whose nine-month old baby died after choking at a nursery in Kent was concerned that his food was not being pureed by staff, an inquest has heard.

Oliver Steeper died six days after he choked at Jelly Beans day nursery, in Ashford, on 23 September 2021.

Zoe Steeper said she found chunks of pineapple in her son’s vomit when he was violently sick on 16 September.

Mrs Steeper was asked at the inquest if anyone at the nursery had sought her permission to start trying Oliver on non-pureed food. She said no.

Asked if Oliver had any previous history of choking, her response was again no.

Mrs Steeper said: "The majority of his food at home was purees."

The inquest heard Oliver, who only had two front teeth, had been eating pureed meals at home, and his parents had been assured by nursery workers that solids could be blended before being fed to him.

She said: "We assumed that food would be pureed. He wasn't able to chew. That made us extra cautious."

Oliver Steeper's parents say they want to keep their son's memory alive

The inquest heard how Mrs Steeper intended to speak with staff at the nursery after finding the pineapple chunks in her son’s vomit.

She said: "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."

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

Oliver then spent some time off nursery with tonsillitis.

Mrs Steeper said she tried to raise the issue with staff in person when she dropped him off on 23 September, but 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."

Mrs Steeper said she received a phone call at about 11.30 BST the same day saying her son had choked on his lunch and was with paramedics.

“[The paramedic] was running out with Oli in his arms doing chest compressions. I abandoned my car and ran," she said.

Oliver was taken to the William Harvey Hospital before being transferred to Evelina Children’s Hospital, in London, where he died.

The inquest in Maidstone continues.