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On 9 December 2022, Masi Sibanda began her day as usual, leaving her 14-month-old son, Noah, at Fairytales Day Nursery in Dudley. Trusting the nursery staff, she believed Noah was safe and being well cared for by his carers and playmates. Tragically, just hours later, Noah died after being suffocated while being put to sleep at the nursery.
The full scale of the tragedy came to light following the sentencing of Kimberley Cookson, aged 23, a nursery staff member, business owner Deborah Latewood, 55, and the nursery itself at Wolverhampton Crown Court. Over three years since Noah’s death, Masi Sibanda continues to endure unimaginable grief. Reflecting on the loss, she told the BBC, “I still kept on saying to myself this is a dream, surely this isn’t real.”
Investigations revealed that unsafe sleeping practices were common at Fairytales Day Nursery, which has since closed. Young children were often forcibly restrained if they resisted sleep. CCTV footage captured Noah’s final moments, showing Cookson restraining him as he struggled to fall asleep. Noah’s mother described the harrowing scene: “Noah was struggling. He wasn’t sleeping, didn’t want to sleep. And in response to that, she wraps him tighter. She puts a blanket on his head again. And then he’s passing away, he’s dying there.”
Detective Inspector Carla Thompson shared further details of the incident, explaining that Noah was securely wrapped and placed face down on a cushion with a blanket covering his head during his morning nap. Despite his attempts to free himself, Noah remained trapped until he fell off the cushion onto the floor. His key worker, Cookson, put him down for an afternoon nap just 30 minutes later inside a small Christmas-decorated teepee, but the child was left unchecked for two hours. When staff finally looked, Noah was found unresponsive and paramedics were called immediately. Despite emergency attempts, Noah was pronounced dead at the hospital.
In court, Kimberley Cookson admitted to gross negligence manslaughter and received a prison sentence of three years and four months. Fairytales Day Nursery Limited pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter and failing to fulfill its responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The firm was fined £240,000 during the hearing, with additional financial penalties imposed. The tragic death of Noah Sibanda has left a lasting impact on his family and serves as a somber reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding children in care settings
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