A single mother wept as she appealed to the Paweena Foundation after her 5-month-old daughter died mysteriously following placement with a live-in nanny. She exposed that the nanny gave medicine meant for a 2-year-old child before the baby became lethargic and developed a suspicious nosebleed. Doctors estimate the infant stopped breathing about two hours before arriving at the hospital.
On 10 Mar 2026 GMT+7, reporters reported that at the Paweena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women in Khlong 7, Thanyaburi District, Pathum Thani Province, Ms. Wan (a pseudonym), a 37-year-old single mother working as a restaurant PR, tearfully lodged a complaint with Mrs. Paweena Hongsakul, chairperson of the foundation, after hiring a caretaker for her 5-month-old daughter, who later died under mysterious circumstances.
Ms. Wan said she separated from her husband when she was five months pregnant and has struggled alone since then. When her daughter was three months old, she hired a live-in nanny near her home in Rat Burana District, Bangkok, paying 6,500 baht per month because she works night shifts. She would pick up her daughter every Saturday, her day off. The nanny’s household had about 7-8 children. There had been no problems until the baby reached five months.
On the afternoon of 2 Mar 2026 GMT+7, the nanny called to report that the baby was coughing, so she gave her anti-inflammatory medicine that belonged to the nanny’s 2-year-old child as a precaution. The nanny said the baby was now asleep and there was no need to worry. The mother questioned whether medicine meant for a 2-year-old was safe, and the nanny responded, “It’s okay. She can take it. It’s not much.”
Ms. Wan continued that on 3 Mar, she went to check on her daughter at the nanny’s home and saw her lying face down asleep. The nanny said the baby had been playing a lot and just fell asleep. But when she picked up her daughter, she felt the baby was weak and drowsy. The nanny told her not to disturb the baby because she just fell asleep. The mother sensed something was wrong since her daughter was usually lively, smiling, and playful. She stayed with the baby for about half an hour, but the child did not wake, before she had to leave for work.
On the morning of 4 Mar, worried, she hurried to see her daughter, bringing milk and diapers, but the nanny was not home. The nanny’s mother said the baby was sleeping upstairs and assured her condition had improved. Around 9 a.m., the nanny’s mother called in a panic saying the nanny was rushing the baby to the hospital because she had a severe nosebleed. Alarmed, the mother rushed to the hospital and found her daughter in the emergency room, where doctors were performing CPR for about 40 minutes. They then informed her they could not save the baby and believed she had stopped breathing about two hours before arriving, despite the home being only a 10-minute drive from the hospital. Had they arrived sooner, CPR might have been successful.
Ms. Wan said she asked the nurses why the baby’s condition was so severe and if there was much bleeding. The nurses said there was no blood when the baby arrived, suggesting it had been wiped off previously. The nanny told doctors and nurses the baby had respiratory problems. When the mother asked the nanny about the nosebleed, the nanny denied any bleeding, contradicting the nanny’s mother who had initially reported severe bleeding. Seeing the nanny’s shirt stained with blood, the mother pressed her, and the nanny reluctantly admitted there was a small amount of bleeding. The nanny then asked anxiously, “Are you going to press charges against me? Please don’t. I didn’t do anything.”
Initially, doctors issued a death certificate citing the cause of death as "circulatory system failure," but the mother, suspicious, requested an autopsy. Doctors collected tissue and blood samples for detailed examination, with results expected in about two months. The mother filed a police report at Rat Burana Police Station on 4 Mar. Police visited the nanny’s home to investigate and questioned people at the daycare facility.
By 5 Mar, the mother held her daughter’s funeral due to financial hardship, as keeping the body would have incurred additional costs. Still grieving, she sought justice through the Paweena Foundation to uncover the true cause of her daughter’s death and to pursue the case.
Mrs. Paweena expressed condolences to the grieving mother and said upon receiving the case, she immediately coordinated with Police Colonel Watcharaphol Suwanthawong, chief of Rat Burana Police Station. They will also coordinate with the Ministry of Social Development to inspect whether the daycare home is properly registered, aiding the police investigation. On 11 Mar, foundation staff will accompany the mother to meet with Police Colonel Watcharaphol for further statements. The Paweena Foundation will continue to monitor the case and ensure justice for the single mother.
She added that the government should prioritize funding to establish community daycare centers or facilities within government offices or workplaces. This is important because new mothers often must work and cannot care for their infants, leaving them no choice but to entrust their children to others. Ensuring safety and proper childcare is a critical factor to address.