The efficacy of cricoid pressure (Sellick's manoeuvre) was evaluated for use in paediatric anaesthesia. From studies on eight infant cadavers, cricoid pressure was found to be effective in occluding the oesophagus in the presence or absence of a nasogastric tube despite an intra-oesophageal pressure of 100 cm H,O. In anaesthetized paediatric patients, cricoid pressure did not directly occlude any of the oesophageal tubes previously filled with contrast material. A nasogastric tube need not be withdrawn before induction of anaesthesia. It can act as a “blow-off” valve if a rise in intragastric pressure occurs while cricoid pressure will prevent regurgitation of gastric contents into the pharynx.