A five-month-old baby is fighting for life in hospital after suffering serious and unexplained injuries, including a brain bleed. The case has triggered a baby safety investigation and a police inquiry. The child remains on life support while doctors carry out urgent tests to understand what happened.
The mother says she is “angry, confused, and heartbroken” as she waits for answers. She believes a safety plan designed to protect her child failed. The baby was placed under a formal care arrangement involving family supervision while the mother was away. The plan was meant to ensure the child’s safety at all times.
Police confirmed they are investigating how the baby was injured. Officers are speaking with family members and reviewing all events leading up to the hospital admission. The baby was taken to Christchurch Hospital after being found with serious injuries that doctors described as unexplained. Medical staff reported a subdural brain bleed and other signs of trauma. Authorities also noted glass found on the baby’s clothing, which is now part of the investigation.
Child protection authorities had already been involved with the family before this incident. Records show that earlier concerns were raised about the care of the baby’s older sibling. These concerns included reports of family conflict and questions about supervision and wellbeing. There were also worries about substance use and unstable home conditions involving adults in the household.
Due to these concerns, a safety plan was created in early 2025. The plan required that the older child be placed with relatives in another region. A separate arrangement was also made for the baby. The agreement stated that the infant should remain with a grandmother when the mother travelled away from home. Officials also noted concerns about the mother’s ability to manage daily care needs due to personal challenges.
Despite these measures, the situation changed over the weekend when the mother traveled with her partner and baby. Family members had previously expressed concern about travel plans, including the lack of proper child restraints and safe seating. They also raised worries about unstable living arrangements during the trip.
The mother later described the events in detail. She said she followed the care plan and believed her child was safe under family supervision. She explained that she prepared for travel while her baby stayed with the grandmother at home. The following day, she received a call saying the baby had suffered seizures and was being taken to hospital by ambulance.
She immediately returned home and went to the hospital. There, she saw her child connected to medical machines. She said the experience was deeply distressing and difficult to process. She described feeling helpless as doctors worked to stabilize the baby’s condition.
Hospital staff informed her that the child had suffered a serious brain injury. Medical teams performed scans and placed the baby under close observation. The infant is currently undergoing further tests, including imaging and neurological checks. Doctors are also slowly reducing sedation to assess breathing and brain activity.
The mother says she is struggling to understand how the situation escalated so quickly. She insists there were no previous similar incidents when the child stayed under family care. She described her baby as a lively and cheerful infant who had just begun reaching early development milestones.
She also expressed frustration with the system designed to protect children. She said she trusted the safety plan and believed it would keep her baby secure. Now, she says she feels let down and wants clear answers about what happened during the time she was away.
Child protection authorities confirmed they were notified after the baby was admitted to hospital. They said they cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing. Officers continue to examine all possible factors, including family interactions and living conditions.
The baby safety investigation remains active as authorities work to determine how the injuries occurred. Police say they are treating the case with urgency and care, as the focus remains on the baby’s recovery and finding the truth behind the incident.
