Guidelines for newborn resuscitation have been invaluable in disseminating knowledge, enhancing skills and promoting research. Most guidance is built on the consensus on science and treatment recommendations of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR).1 This group will publish new guidance later this year. The ILCOR evidence evaluation has been a strong stimulus for research and a number of studies related to newborn resuscitation have been published in Archives of Disease in Childhood since the 2005 statement. The difficulties of conducting research on newly born infants have dictated that much of the available data comes from studies performed on manikins.

Schmölzer et al2 present their experience using a respiratory function monitor to assess tidal volume and mask leak during resuscitation of 20 preterm infants. They should be congratulated for producing some of the first respiratory data from newborn infants since the 1980s.3,–,7 Data were gathered from the onset of mask ventilation, then after 1 min the resuscitator (whose experience ranged from 4 months to 12 years) was asked to estimate mask leak, assess chest wall movement and estimate the tidal volume they were delivering. …