Mother suffocates 4-month-old daughter to death

Another day in Japan, another infant death at the hands of their parent! Pitiful! Just pitiful!

Put child in other room. Let child cry until sleep/calm. Let child live. Repeat cycle.

"Her husband was away at work." How often did that happen? Sounds like post-natal depression. And before people say "why didn't she just get help?" just remember that it's hard to get help here and there's still a stigma to admitting to mental issues that prevents people from talking about it or seeking help. A public awareness campaign with hotline numbers might save a lot of lives.

Newsflash: Babies cry.

Obvious all comments from people living outside of Japan. The stress of keeping your kids calm and quiet is insane. I have seen families pestered out of their houses by elderly neighbours because of kids.

No excuse but there is always a cause behind bad things.

Please kill yourself you selfish woman.

Why didn't she just step out for five minutes and catch her breath which isn't the best thing to do but far better than killing her own child and going to prison! This COUPLE must have been going through some difficulties for this to occur and the husband may not have been the "Hey sweetheart, I'll change her diapers and you go take a bath and relax" type!

R.I.P. and may your little heart and mind find peace at last.

There are never follow up stories about people doing these kinds of acts. Why not? I`m mean, are these people getting off without charges and its just not being reported because of a pathetic pride thing.

How does the father feel? Shouldn`t we be asking?

＠Speed

Put child in other room. Let child cry until sleep/calm

I did this when by daughter was a baby. Although it didn't work most of the time (because she would still keep crying) it does help YOU to calm down until you're in a better state of mind to handle it. I really don't understand how these parents resort to killing their kids just because they cry. There are so many things that can be done without having to kill

Uh...buy some earplugs...?

Subhuman.

What a dimwit! Babys cry, thats what they do. Do we now need a drivers license for new mothers? Shaking head...

Rest in peace poor child.

Why have a kid in the first place if you think you might be able to handle the situations that arise? It states that she is 31, but seems to have a mental capacity of a child herself for her reasoning. So infuriating.

My heart goes out the 4 month old baby, rest in peace.

Pure evil . Simple. All babies cry but not all babies die. Most mothers have something called a maternal instinct. Not this one obviously. Besides suffocating a child takes some time and effort. What a nasty piece of work this women must be. No excuses. Enjoy your 3 months in prison.

Those who cannot take much responsibilities for their own children must not have babies.

How came the husband put working late ahead of his new born baby and a wife suffering from mental and physical exhaustion? Really, really hats wrong with this country?

How came the husband put working late ahead of his new born baby

between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. is not working late, unless he's on the night shift.

Gogogo

Please kill yourself you selfish woman.

Gogogo I doubt whether this poor lady will read your comment, but exhorting someone to kill themselves is a terrible thing to do, and perhaps not the smartest thing for you to say online.

This woman did a terrible thing, which she will have to live with forever, and I truely hope she is adequately punished for . It is not your place to tell someone to commit suicide.

My girlfriend's second child suffocated in its crib when it was 37 days old (20 odd years ago). It was an accidental death, but she was still blamed for the death by both her family and the police. The reason she was blamed for it is because it is so damn common for young mothers to kill their infants in Japan. Yeah, I know this happens all over the world, but infanticide is very high in Japan. I would like to be able to get comparative statistics on per capita basis of infanticide around the world. I only can compare by reports I read in international newspapers and these kinds of reports seem to be far more common in japanese newspapers.

too much stress and doubtful the father of the deceased child had any role in taking time to care during this infant growth stage. Typical Japanese system that doesn't realize it has to change in order to move forward and have a regrowth in population. I can't say all blame is on the mother. But on the bright side she's young enough to have one more and I'm volunteering to help populate Japan.

Perhaps she was very isolated with little help. Or ignorant of baby care. Or neighbors had been banging on the door yelling "make your kid shut up" not uncommon in Japan. Very sad.

This brief and unclear article makes it sound like it was possibly an accident for which the mother blames herself. I would not jump to the conclusion that "used a blanket" means "smothered forcefully", nor would I assumed that "killed" means "intentionally" or "murdered". It may be that she threw a blanket over the crying baby, and the baby sucked the blanket into her mouth and could not breathe through her nose.

Further even a distraught mother's confession can be suspect. They may seek punishment for themselves even for an accident.

Jumping to conclusion is too easy. And cheers for suicide is beyond sickness.

Another 'mother-of-the-year' award. Isn't that about FIVE this week? And just above this article there's another one about a 78 year old woman who had killed her daughter -- albeit it the daughter was not an infant. This country has some serious infanticide problems.

That Guy: "...nor would I assumed that "killed" means "intentionally" or "murdered". It may be that she threw a blanket over the crying baby, and the baby sucked the blanket into her mouth and could not breathe through her nose."

Ummm, That Guy, I think the fact that she literally said she killed the baby because she wouldn't stop crying is pretty indicative of 'intentional' AND 'murder'. No pity for this woman. May she never see the light of day again. But knowing Japan, she'll be out in a couple of years, max, if she sees a prison cell at all. RIP to the little one.

Here is a bit of advice of a soon to be new mother in Japan. It's hard. I have been alone most of my pregnancy and it's hard. My husband is not allowed to come home early or stay home from work whenever he wants too. I have also learned many japanese women are clueless about babies.

I go to breast feeding classes and mothers classes and see women older than me unable to even handle the fake baby given to them. They are confused how to hold a baby or dress a baby. The doctors don't give you any advice unless you ask for it. Many japanese women are left alone nobody to help them their parents or in laws live too far away or have told them to take care of the baby themselves.

I am lucky my mother in law is going to be very involved in helping me out. She bought a lot of magazines and books to learn what she should so to help me so I can sleep and feel less stressed out when my son is born. Not everybody is as lucky as I am here. Of course as mentioned above mental issues are swept under the rug and not addressed properly at all in Japan.

This woman should have sought help and what she did is by no means correct but to wish death on her is too much.

This news was very very shocking. I felt very sad. I thought why her murdered a child. And, I thought whether there was not her person who helped her around. I though her compensate a crime, and never cause a this case .

well prison waiting her .... have fun there u a murderer ...

there seem to be more horrible mother in laws than great ones here

"here"? In Japan, MiLs are more helpful, but it tends to be taken as meddling or horrible. The relation is two way street. It depends on how you perceive your MiL's action. You have to respect the older generations. They have wisdom.

Princess Kiko goes along well with Empress Michiko, but Princess Masako does not. It does not mean Her Majesty is horrible.

Another post-natal depression. At least she didn't commit suicide after that..

Why are people so stupid! A baby cries so...KILL IT?? NO!! Feed the baby!! Play with the baby! Give the poor baby a bath etc..what in the heck was this idiot fool of a woman thinking??!!! RIP poor baby 4 month old baby girl

How hard and heavy can a 4 month be to hold !!?? The poor angel was simply seeking comfort and security.... Thoughts and prayers goes out to their family!!!

Sleep deprivation can turn some people into monsters. Baby has to be fed every few hours. Baby can cry all night. That can go on for weeks.

Why did this happen? the baby was only 4 months what person does this to a child.

Obvious all comments from people living outside of Japan.

Um, what makes you say that? Although you you may be onto something with the pettiness of neighbours and the thin walls. As far as I'm concerned if the elderly can't put up with the noise of children they should move to a retirement home. Back on topic, what a tragic thing to happen