title: The danger of freely rocking cradles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assist the Adelaide State Coroner with his inquest into the death of two infants in South Australia, and to assist the Department of Public and Consumer Affairs develop Australian Standards for rocking cradles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of each brand of new cradle commercially available in South Australia was examined. Videotapes were made of 11 healthy infants in rocking cradles to examine how they moved and how they reacted in different positions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many cradles had insecure locking pins. Infants in a cradle tilted at 10 degrees greater, face down with the side of the face against the bars, and an aim trapped between the body and bars or through the bars, were unable to obtain a clear airway unless a dummy was in the mouth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants should never be left unattended in freely rocking cradles. Australian Standards should recommend locking pins be bolted into place and that cradles cannot tilt to greater than 5 degrees.
authors.affiliation: Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collett
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sprod
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beal
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology; D001513:Beds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards; D009068:Movement; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D011187:Posture; D013021:South Australia; D014743:Videotape Recording