Emergency & Urgent Care
Choking & Infant CPR
Choking is when airway is blocked - baby can't breathe, cry, or cough. Signs: silent (no sound), can't cough, blue/purple color, panicked look, losing consciousness.
Different from gagging (normal when learning to eat) - gagging baby makes sounds, coughs, and clears it themselves.
All parents should take infant CPR class. Heimlich maneuver is DIFFERENT for infants than adults.
What to Do
- For conscious choking infant under 1 year: DO NOT do abdominal thrusts (Heimlich)
- Give 5 back blows: Hold baby face-down on your forearm, head lower than chest, support jaw. Strike firmly between shoulder blades with heel of hand
- If object not out, give 5 chest thrusts: Turn baby face-up on your forearm, head lower than chest. Use 2 fingers on center of chest (just below nipple line), push down 1.5 inches
- Repeat back blows and chest thrusts until object comes out or baby becomes unconscious
- If baby becomes unconscious: Call 911 immediately, start CPR (30 chest compressions, check mouth for object, 2 rescue breaths, repeat)
- Never stick finger in baby's mouth blindly - only remove object if you can SEE it
- Take infant CPR class - online or in-person through Red Cross or local hospital
- Prevent choking: No whole grapes, nuts, popcorn, hard candies, hot dogs, or chunks of food under age 4
When to call a doctor
Call 911 IMMEDIATELY if baby is choking and can't breathe, cough, or cry. Start back blows and chest thrusts while waiting for help.