The woman is now being investigated after reportedly using the alcohol to try to get the boy to sleep, so he wouldn’t bother her during celebrations over the festive period in Russia.

Nadezhda Yarych had reportedly taken her son Zakhar to a local hospital — in the town of Shebekino near Russia’s Ukraine border — after he fell ill.

Doctors diagnosed a viral infection and suggested the boy be admitted but Ms Yarych, who allegedly took Zakhar to the hospital four times within a week, refused to let him be admitted each time.

According to reports, she preferred to treat the child at home.

He died on January 5, and a post-mortem examination revealed his death was caused by a viral infection.

Sources close to the family told local media that Ms Yarych did not want to spend the holiday period celebrations in hospital with her baby, The Sunreported.

The sources claimed Ms Yarych repeatedly gave her baby vodka to make him sleep during the week.

The woman’s husband and stepfather to Zakhar, Mikhail Yarych, is also being investigated. He was reportedly aware of the situation but did nothing to help the child.

No arrests have been made at this stage and police are yet to comment on the matter.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission