She thought her mum "won't wake up," so she surveyed the fridge to fight hunger - for two days.

Lifeless Lauren Silbery was found in her Upper Hutt home on Oct. 21, two days after her death, when police went to her house after concerned family members raised a reason for alarm.

Pete Silbery, Lauren's brother, said it was routine for his sister to call every night. After failing to reach Lauren for two nights, Pete got worried.

Lauren, 28, was found face down next to her bed. Police ruled out foul play in the death, but is currently waiting for results of post-mortem tests.

Shylah Silbery, Lauren's daughter, survived by eating food from the fridge, but was already dehydrated and needed to be taken to hospital when police came.

"Mummy won't wake up," the New Zealand Herald quoted the toddler as saying, when police asked her what happened.

Upon instruction from the cat's window, Shylah dragged a coffee table to the door to stand on so she could unlock it for the police.

Milk, cheese and leftover lasagna from the fridge nourished Shylah since her mother died.

Although a family member is keen on getting custody of Shylah, she had to stay with Child, Youth and Family while her mother's death mystery has not been solved. Police suspects heart failure, but no reports have been made official yet.