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June 1997, Vol 151, No. 6 >
Article | June 1997

Suspended Rocking Cradles, Positional Asphyxia, and Sudden Infant Death FREE

Jeanne Ackerman, MD; Enid Gilbert-Barness, MD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151(6):573-575. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1997.02170430039008.
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Objective:  To describe the risk of unexpected death in infants who are placed in suspended rocking cradles.

Main Outcome Measures:  Ten cases of sudden infant death and 5 cases of infant asphyxia with successful resuscitation reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission were analyzed. The death scene investigation reports and autopsy material were made available for evaluation. All 15 cases implicated a suspended head-to-toe rocking cradle.

Results:  Infants were aged 3 months or younger and were found in the facedown prone position when discovered. The cradle was tilted at greater than 5°, and the head was wedged at one end of the cradle. A locking pin was not used in 14 cases. Ten of the 15 infants died. The autopsy reports listed sudden infant death syndrome as the cause of death.

Conclusions:  Suspended rocking cradles represent a potentially lethal sleeping environment and should not be used without a locking pin in place. Infants should be placed in the supine position for sleep.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:573-575

REFERENCES

1 +
I Kings 3:16-28 (KJV).
2 +
Byard RW.  Possible mechanisms responsible for the sudden infant death syndrome . J Paediatr Child Health . 1991;;27:147-157.
3 +
Mitchell EA, Scragg R, Stewart AW, et al.  Results from the first year of the New Zealand cot death study . N Z Med J . 1991;;104:71-76.
4 +
Dwyer T, Ponsonby ALB, Newman NM, Gibbons LE.  Prospective cohort study of prone sleeping position and sudden infant death syndrome . Lancet . 1991;; 337:1244-1247.
5 +
 American Academy of Pediatrics AAP Task Force on infant positioning and SIDS . Pediatrics . 1992;;89:1120-1126.
6 +
Gilbert-Barness E, Hegstrand L, Chandra S, et al.  Hazards of mattresses, beds and bedding in deaths of infants . Am J Med Pathol . 1991;;12:27-32.
7 +
Smialek JE, Smialek PZ, Spitz WU.  Accidental bed deaths in infants due to unsafe sleeping situations . Clin Pediatr . 1977;;16:1031-1036.
8 +
Hatch DJ, Helms P, Matthew DJ, Skinner D.  Resistance to airflow through bedding materials used in infancy . Arch Dis Child . 1981;;57:443-446.
9 +
Bolton DPG, Taylor BJ, Campbell AJ, Galland BC, Cresswell C.  Rebreathing expired gases from bedding: a cause of cot death? Arch Dis Child . 1993;;69: 187-190.
10 +
Kemp JS, Thach BT.  Sudden death in infants sleeping on polystyrene-filled cushions . N Engl J Med . 1991;;324:1858-1864.
11 +
Beal SM, Moore L, Collett M, Montgomery B, Sprod C, Beal A.  The danger of freely rocking cradles . J Paediatr Child Health . 1995;;31:38-40.
12 +
Moore L, Bourne AJ, Beal S, Collett M, Byard RW.  Unexpected infant death in association with suspended rocking cradles . Am J Forensic Med Pathol . 1995;; 16:1-4.
13 +
Moss ML.  The veloepiglottic sphincter and obligate nose breathing in the neonate . J Pediatr . 1965;;67:330.
14 +
Emery JL, Thornton JA.  Effects of obstruction to respiration in infants with particular reference to mattresses, pillows, and their coverings . BMJ . 1968;;3: 209-213.
15 +
Willinger M, James LS, Catz C.  Defining the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): deliberations of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development . Pediatr Pathol . 1991;;11:677-684.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
I Kings 3:16-28 (KJV).
2 +
Byard RW.  Possible mechanisms responsible for the sudden infant death syndrome . J Paediatr Child Health . 1991;;27:147-157.
3 +
Mitchell EA, Scragg R, Stewart AW, et al.  Results from the first year of the New Zealand cot death study . N Z Med J . 1991;;104:71-76.
4 +
Dwyer T, Ponsonby ALB, Newman NM, Gibbons LE.  Prospective cohort study of prone sleeping position and sudden infant death syndrome . Lancet . 1991;; 337:1244-1247.
5 +
 American Academy of Pediatrics AAP Task Force on infant positioning and SIDS . Pediatrics . 1992;;89:1120-1126.
6 +
Gilbert-Barness E, Hegstrand L, Chandra S, et al.  Hazards of mattresses, beds and bedding in deaths of infants . Am J Med Pathol . 1991;;12:27-32.
7 +
Smialek JE, Smialek PZ, Spitz WU.  Accidental bed deaths in infants due to unsafe sleeping situations . Clin Pediatr . 1977;;16:1031-1036.
8 +
Hatch DJ, Helms P, Matthew DJ, Skinner D.  Resistance to airflow through bedding materials used in infancy . Arch Dis Child . 1981;;57:443-446.
9 +
Bolton DPG, Taylor BJ, Campbell AJ, Galland BC, Cresswell C.  Rebreathing expired gases from bedding: a cause of cot death? Arch Dis Child . 1993;;69: 187-190.
10 +
Kemp JS, Thach BT.  Sudden death in infants sleeping on polystyrene-filled cushions . N Engl J Med . 1991;;324:1858-1864.
11 +
Beal SM, Moore L, Collett M, Montgomery B, Sprod C, Beal A.  The danger of freely rocking cradles . J Paediatr Child Health . 1995;;31:38-40.
12 +
Moore L, Bourne AJ, Beal S, Collett M, Byard RW.  Unexpected infant death in association with suspended rocking cradles . Am J Forensic Med Pathol . 1995;; 16:1-4.
13 +
Moss ML.  The veloepiglottic sphincter and obligate nose breathing in the neonate . J Pediatr . 1965;;67:330.
14 +
Emery JL, Thornton JA.  Effects of obstruction to respiration in infants with particular reference to mattresses, pillows, and their coverings . BMJ . 1968;;3: 209-213.
15 +
Willinger M, James LS, Catz C.  Defining the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): deliberations of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development . Pediatr Pathol . 1991;;11:677-684.

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