An out-of-hours court session heard that Sofina Nikat has confessed to killing her daughter.
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Mother has made a full confession, police say, despite earlier claiming a man of African appearance took her baby.
She was arrested at 8.35am on Tuesday in Mont Albert.
An Australian woman who said a drunk man abducted her baby has been charged with murdering the 14-month-old girl.
Ms Nikat did not apply for bail and remains in custody.
Relatives at first pleaded with the public to stay vigilant and to help find Sanaya, as police launched a full-scale search.
Today lawyers said Sofina Nikat was too unwell to appear in court following concerns for her mental state and risk of self-harm.
The toddler who was found dead in a creek in Melbourne’s north-east was snatched from a pram while walking with her mother, in a park on Saturday, the Victoria Police Leading Senior Police Officer, Lee Thomson, confirmed to The Fiji Times yesterday.
She said she gave chase but couldn’t catch him.
The report sparked a massive search in the area involving police and volunteers.
Sanaya’s father Sameer Sahib told the Herald Sun he was shocked by his daughter’s death and felt “sick to his stomach”.
Defence counsel Michael McNamara said a doctor and a psychiatric nurse had seen Ms Nikat while she was in custody, and both were concerned about what effect a court appearance would have on her.
Neighbours described the heart-breaking scene as “chilling”, while others did not hold back their anger. Photo: 7 NewsThe house where Sanaya and her mother lived.
Sanaya’s grandmother and two young relatives embraced as the tribute concluded.
It comes after Sanaya’s grieving uncle, Habib Ali, revealed the toddler was treated by an ambulance for a “seizure” just a week before she died.
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Ms Nikat spent Tuesday night in custody and is due to appear in court again on Wednesday.
