THE DANGER OF FREELY ROCKING CRADLES

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. Methodology: 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 or greater, face down with the side of the face against the bars, and an arm 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.