BABY GIGI DIED AT NURSERY — NOW HER PARENTS ARE FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE NO OTHER FAMILY SUFFERS THE SAME LOSS

Nine-month-old Genevieve Meehan was dropped off at nursery by her mother one morning. It was the last time Katie Wheeler would ever see her daughter alive.

Known affectionately as Gigi, Genevieve was described by her family as a bright, mischievous little girl with a captivating smile.

But on May 9, 2022, her life came to a devastating end while she was in the care of Tiny Toes Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport.

According to the sentencing remarks in the case, Genevieve’s parents had every reason to expect that their baby would be cared for by trained professionals and kept safe while they were away. Instead, the court found that her death was the result of unlawful acts and was entirely avoidable.

Genevieve had been tightly swaddled and strapped face down onto a beanbag in an unsafe sleeping position.

She remained there for more than an hour and a half.

The Lullaby Trust states that her cause of death was determined to be asphyxia combined with pathophysiological stress arising from an unsafe sleep environment.

The nursery’s deputy manager, Kate Roughley, was convicted of unlawful-act manslaughter following a trial.

She was sentenced to 14 years in prison in May 2024.

CCTV footage proved crucial to the case.

It showed what happened inside the nursery and helped establish how Genevieve had been placed and how frequently she was checked. Her father, John Meehan, has said that without the footage, the family might never have known the full circumstances surrounding their daughter’s final hours.

For Katie and John, however, the conviction did not bring an end to their fight.

Instead, they began campaigning in Gigi’s name for stronger safeguards in nurseries across England.

One of their central demands has been mandatory CCTV in early-years settings, arguing that cameras can provide accountability and evidence when something goes wrong.

They have also called for more frequent inspections and clearer, legally enforceable safe-sleep requirements.

Their campaign has already resulted in significant changes.

In June 2026, the government confirmed that updated safer-sleep wording would take effect from September, with the new guidance developed alongside experts including The Lullaby Trust and agreed with Ofsted.

Ofsted also committed to assessing safer sleeping arrangements during every inspection of every early-years setting in England.

The government has additionally announced funding for 3,000 extra unannounced Ofsted visits each year, giving inspectors more opportunities to identify potential risks before they become tragedies.

For Gigi’s parents, those changes are deeply personal.

They know that nothing can bring their daughter back.

But they hope the rules created in her name will protect other babies whose parents make the same assumption they once did — that when a child is left at a regulated nursery, they are safe.

Katie has spoken about how difficult it remains to understand how her daughter could have been left in distress for such a prolonged period.

She has questioned how, in a room with other people present, a baby could struggle and ultimately die without the danger being recognised in time.

At home, Katie and John continue to keep Gigi’s memory alive.

Her artwork, toys and clothes remain treasured possessions. Some of her clothes have been transformed into blankets, while a special cabinet holds her belongings alongside bunches of lavender.

The family also deliberately talks about Gigi in the present tense — keeping alive the little girl they remember rather than allowing her story to be defined only by the circumstances of her death.

And their campaign is not over.

They continue to call for mandatory CCTV across early-years settings, alongside further measures designed to strengthen accountability and child safety.

A pre-inquest review concerning Genevieve’s death is scheduled for October 8.

For Katie and John, every new safeguard represents another part of the legacy their daughter left behind.

Gigi was only nine months old.

But her parents are determined that her short life — and the tragedy of her death — will