Solid Starts - Infant Rescue - Choking First Aid & CPR

Infant Rescue:
Choking First Aid

& CPR
For children younger than 12 months old
@SolidStarts | SolidStarts.com
© Solid Starts Inc. 2023. All Rights Reserved. 1
Infant Rescue:
Choking First Aid & CPR
While choking is uncommon, it is a situation that requires caregivers to act extremely fast. Within
minutes, choking can lead to permanent brain damage or death, so it is extremely important that
choking first aid is administered quickly and effectively.1
Most fatal choking incidents in infancy involve non-food objects the infant picked up and put in their
mouth, often while crawling, rather than food served at the table or high chair. Take care to keep small
objects, including marbles, batteries, coins, nut shells, and small toy parts out of your child’s reach and
regularly wipe the kitchen floor for fallen food stuffs. This requires regularly getting down on the floor
to view your home from your child’s eye level and putting food and objects back on counters, desks,
and tables out of reach. See page 15 for a list of some common non-food choking hazards.
It is vitally important that all caregivers know how to administer choking first aid for the specific
age of the child. In instances of choking, time is of the essence, and it is imperative to determine
the situation and act fast. 2,3 See pages 7-9 for the various choking scenarios that will determine
your actions. Caregivers will have to administer chest thrusts and back blows immediately and
if needed, CPR. One cannot wait for emergency help to arrive in person. If your country has any
recommendation that differs from ours, please follow your country’s specific guidelines.
Disclaimer
The opinions, advice, suggestions, and information presented in this article are for informational purposes only and are not a
substitute for professional advice from or consultation with a pediatric medical or health professional, doctor, primary medical
provider, nutritionist, or expert in feeding and eating (“Health Care Providers”). Never disregard professional medical advice or
delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here.
These pages have been created with typically developing infants in mind, less than 12 months old. The information is generalized
for a broad audience. Your child is an individual and may have needs or considerations beyond generally accepted practices. If
your child has underlying medical or developmental differences, including but not limited to: prematurity, developmental delay,
hypotonia, airway differences, chromosomal abnormalities, craniofacial anomalies, gastrointestinal differences, cardiopulmonary
disease, or neurological differences, discuss the child’s choking first aid plan with their primary medical provider.
This guide does not intend to replace a choking first aid certification program. The information compiled within this guide is
sourced from various governing medical bodies, including the American Heart Association and the Red Cross.
Solid Starts recommends parents and caregivers take choking first aid certification programs. Choking first aid programs are
available through the Red Cross. Additional resources are available at solidstarts.com.
Solid Starts is not engaged in rendering professional advice, whether medical or otherwise, to individual users or their children
or families. No content in this article, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your
Health Care Providers. By accessing the content on SolidStarts.com and in this article, you acknowledge and agree that you are
accepting responsibility for your child’s health and well-being. In return for Solid Starts providing you with the information in this
article, you waive any claims that you or your child may have as a result of utilizing the content in this article. Your use of the
content in this article is also subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use on Page 16 and the Terms and Conditions of Use
for solidstarts.com. Always seek the advice of your Health Care Providers with any questions you may have regarding your
child’s development, capacity for starting solid food and choking first aid plan.
Emergency Reference
We strongly encourage you to print this guide for emergency rescue and post to your refrigerator
or wall.
In an instance of choking, you will not have time to Google what to do. You’ll need to start performing
emergency rescue right away while calling Emergency Services. Having a visual reminder of the
techniques can be very helpful.
It is also a good idea to keep the following information on the refrigerator or wall for caregivers.
Knowing a child’s height and weight can help emergency personnel on the phone evaluate which
rescue methods may be best for your child.
Emergency rescue number:

(e.g., 9-1-1)
Child’s date of birth:

(e.g., June 19, 2020)
Child’s weight:
(e.g., 40lbs as of July 1, 2022)
Medical history:
(e.g., heart issues, food allergies, seizures, etc.)
Caregiver Training
Knowing how to perform choking first aid is extremely important, and Solid Starts recommends
that parents and caregivers take a choking first aid certification program. Every second counts when
an infant is choking. Ensure that every caregiver you leave your infant with is trained in choking rescue
first aid and CPR. Take a moment to write down every caregiver your infant is alone with and the date
on which they were last trained. Include all parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family members,
babysitters, nannies, daycare workers, and healthcare workers. Don’t forget to include yourself.
If a caregiver is not trained in rescue, schedule a time to practice together as soon as possible.
Watching a video is not enough; to really perfect the technique, you must go through the physical
motions.
Date of Last Choking Date of Last

Name of Caregiver
First Aid Training CPR Training
Choking Facts
Choking accounts for about 3% of all accidental deaths among infants in the United States
each year, or an average of 35 fatalities each year. This translates to about 10 cases per year of
food-related choking events and about 25 cases per year of non-food-related choking events.4
In other words, 29% of fatal choking incidents involved food—and 71% didn’t involve food at all.
Nonfatal choking episodes are much more prevalent yet extremely difficult to calculate.
It is estimated that about 2,500 infants are treated in US emergency departments each year due to
concern for non-fatal food-related choking events.5,6 There are particular factors known to increase
the risk of choking.7,8,9,10 These include:
• Object or food characteristics—small, firm, round, slippery, challenging-to-chew
• Physical activity, including crawling or walking while eating
• Crying
• Lack of supervision
Choking vs. Gagging

It is important to remember that choking is not gagging. True choking is when the airway is
obstructed, and the child is having trouble breathing.11,12
Retching, coughing, or crying:

let child keep trying. Leo (6 months) gags on small particles
of broccoli on his tongue.
Panicked, silent, or wheezing:

child’s not breathing.
Adie (12 months) gags on a small piece of bread.
Gagging is a natural protective reflex that results in the contraction of the back of the throat. It is a
natural function and protects us from choking. When this happens, it’s important to let the child work
the food or object forward on their own. Refrain from sticking your finger in their mouth, which can
push the object further down the throat, making the situation worse. See Gagging vs. Choking.
Signs of an Infant Choking Can Include...
Mild airway obstruction:
• Able to breathe
• Able to generate a strong cough
• May wheeze in between coughs
• Taking shallow or fast breaths
• Anxious or agitated
Severe airway obstruction:
• Inability to make noise or cry

• Difficulty breathing
• Skin tugging or sucking into the chest
• Look of terror, clutching throat
• High-pitched sounds
• Weak or silent cough
• Skin color changes (ranging from blue to purple to ashen-like)
What to do if Your Infant is Choking
How one responds to a choking incident depends on a number

of factors. Please see the scenarios on the following pages to
understand which rescue protocol is appropriate for the situation.
Responding to a Choking Incident
Scenario #1: Infant is coughing or able to make noise.
If an infant is having difficulty breathing but can cough, cry, and make sounds,
this is most consistent with a mild airway obstruction. Immediately follow the
steps below, as a mild airway obstruction can quickly become severe.
1 Lean infant forward or get below eye

level so the infant is looking down at you.
2
Encourage infant to cough. A cough is
better than chest thrusts or back blows.
Do not slap child’s back.
3
Call Emergency Services (e.g., 9-1-1) if the food
or object is not expelled or if you are concerned
that their airway has become completely blocked
(i.e., coughing has stopped).
Do not place your finger into the infant’s mouth to try and remove
the piece of food or object. You can inadvertently push the object
deeper into the airway.
Do not slap the baby’s back if they are coughing. This can also
inadvertently move the object deeper into the airway.
Do not offer the infant anything to eat or drink while coughing.
Scenario #2: Infant is silent, cannot cough,
and cannot cry but is alert.
If an infant is having difficulty breathing and cannot make any sound and is silent but
alert, this is consistent with a severe airway obstruction.
1
If the infant is responsive and able to cough, cry, or make sounds,
see Scenario #1 and encourage the infant to cough. Do not do back
blows or chest thrusts. If the child is unable to cough, move to step 2.
2
Have someone call Emergency Services (e.g., 9-1-1).
If you are alone, call Emergency Services on
speakerphone while continuing to next step.
Lay the infant face down along your
3 forearm, ensuring that their head is

lower than their chest. Support infant’s
head and neck with your hand.
4
Deliver 5 back blows between the
infant’s shoulder blades with your free
hand. See page 10 for more on back blows.
5 If 5 back blows are unsuccessful, turn the

baby over, and proceed with 5 chest thrusts.
See page 11 for more on chest thrusts.
6
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until airway is cleared or infant becomes
non-responsive or unconscious. If the infant becomes non-responsive
or unconscious, administer CPR. See page 12 for more on CPR.
Scenario #3: Infant is unconscious or not responsive.
If an infant is unconscious or not responsive, start CPR immediately.
1 Carefully place the infant on a firm,

flat surface. Do not do a pulse check.
2 Shout for help or dial Emergency Services (e.g., 9-1-1)

on speakerphone while continuing to next step.
3
Open infant’s mouth. If object is clearly visible
and within reach, remove it. Do not place a
finger in infant’s mouth if you do not see anything.
Begin CPR using 2 finger technique.

Find the infant’s nipple line and place
4
2 fingers centered just below it. Push
down about 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep 30
times in 15-18 seconds. Allow chest to
re-expand after each compression.
(Alternatively, you can place both

thumbs side by side, just below the
nipple line, and encircle your fingers
around the infant’s chest.)13
Administer 2 rescue breaths. Breathe into the
5 infant’s mouth for about one second (your mouth

will likely cover their nose as well). Look for chest
rise. Repeat.14,15,16 If you can see the food or object,
remove it before administering any breaths.
6
Repeat steps 4 and 5 until help
arrives or until object is dislodged.
See page 12 for more on CPR.
How to Perform Back Blows
For infants under 12 months
1 If the infant is in a highchair, remove them.
Carefully lay the infant face down along
2
your forearm on your lap, head lower than
their chest, supporting their jaw with your
fingers, in a cup or “U” shape, to ensure
that their mouth is open.
With the heel of an open hand, apply
3 up to 5 forceful blows in between the

infant’s shoulder blades, directed
upward towards the child’s mouth.
Back blows help dislodge an object
by creating vibration in the airway.
If the infant starts coughing, stop If back blows are unsuccessful,

back blows, but help them lean proceed with chest thrusts.
forward to see if they can dislodge
the food or object on their own.
How to Perform Chest Thrusts
Chest thrusts involve quick manual thrusts to create a rapid increase in intrathoracic pressure
(artificially mimicking a cough) when an object is obstructing the airway. It is important to practice
proper technique. Excessive force can damage the child’s ribs and/or internal organs.17
1
From the back blows position (face
downward), carefully flip the
infant over so that they are facing
upwards along your forearm.
2
Support child’s head and neck
with one hand in a neutral position,
head lower than their chest.
Using 2 fingers of your free hand,

3 locate the nipple line and place
your fingers underneath it, centered
on their sternum (breastbone).
4 Administer 5 quick chest thrusts.

With each thrust, compress ⅓
to ½ the depth of their chest.
5 If 5 chest thrusts are unsuccessful and infant is still conscious,

turn the baby over, and proceed with 5 back blows.
How to Perform CPR
If the piece of food or object cannot be dislodged in a timely fashion, an infant can go into cardiac
arrest where the heart stops beating. Without a functioning heart, important organs like the brain
stop receiving blood and oxygen. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure
that aims to keep blood flowing to the brain and rest of the body until Emergency Services arrive.
It is paramount to know the steps of CPR for infants.
1
Carefully place the infant on a firm,
flat surface. Do not do pulse check
(doing so may waste precious time).
2
Before starting CPR, open infant’s mouth. If object is
clearly visible and within reach, remove it. Do not place
a finger in infant’s mouth if you do not see anything.
Find the infant’s nipple line and place

2 fingers centered just below it on their
3 sternum (breastbone).
Alternatively, you can place both thumbs

side by side, just below the nipple line,
and encircle your fingers around the
infant’s chest.18
4 Administer 30 compressions. Push down hard and fast

about 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep 30 times in 15-18 seconds.
Allow chest to fully re-expand after each compression.
Administer 2 rescue breaths. Gently open the infant’s airway

(place one hand on their forehead and tilt their head back to
5 a neutral position and then lift up their chin with your other
hand). Breathe into the infant’s mouth for about one second
(your mouth will likely cover their nose as well). Look for chest
rise. Repeat.19, 20,21 If you can see the piece of food or object,
remove it before administering any breaths.
6 Repeat steps 4 and 5 until help arrives or until object is dislodged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get a device like the LifeVac or Dechoker?

The LifeVac and Dechoker are examples of commercial manual suction devices (airway clearance
devices) that aim to relieve airway obstruction. These devices are not meant to replace choking
first aid (abdominal/chest thrusts and back blows), but rather to be used as an intervention when
traditional choking first aid measures have failed. To date, these devices have not been approved by
the FDA and have not been recommended by any credible organization as an adjunctive treatment
option to be used at any stage of choking first aid.22
However, a recently published abstract examined the use of LifeVac in 16 children ranging from 11
months to 13 years in age (mean age 3.3 years) who were choking on a wide range of items, including
bread, candy, carrots, coin, fruit, ham, hot dogs, mucus, peanut butter, plastic, popcorn, and tuna.
All items were successfully cleared from the airway and there were also no serious side effects
reported.23 While more studies are needed, this study seems promising.
It may be worthwhile to consider investing in an airway suction device like a LifeVac in the event that
choking first aid is unsuccessful. Again, these devices are not meant to replace choking first aid but
rather be used as an intervention when traditional choking first aid measures have failed.
Do not purchase these devices in lieu of learning choking first aid (back blows and chest thrusts).
Even if you own and use an airway clearance device, it is crucial for parents and caregivers to pursue
formal training in pediatric first aid that includes choking rescue and CPR.
What kind of force should we be using with back blows and chest thrusts?
This depends on the child’s size and build and the rescuer’s own strength. A smaller infant will require
less force than a larger infant. In general, back blows should be firm, not a light pat, but also not so
hard that the infant is injured. For the chest thrusts, organ and or rib injury can occur if too much
force is exerted or if the maneuver is done incorrectly.24 It is best to take an in-person infant first aid
class so you can practice with supervision and receive feedback or corrections from the instructor.
How effective are back blows? How effective are chest thrusts?
Unfortunately, there is no intervention that can resolve an airway obstruction with 100% efficacy.
In general, the most effective choking first aid is the intervention that the rescuer feels comfortable
performing.
When would you intervene with gagging?

Gagging is safe and expected. It’s often best not to intervene when a child is gagging, as intervention
can make gagging worse, or potentially move the food in the baby’s mouth leading to loss of control
and increasing choking risk.
However, coaching is encouraged, especially when a child gags repeatedly in one sitting.
• Use a soothing tone to help the child remain calm.
• Remove other food from baby’s tray so they cannot continue to put food in the mouth.
• Tell the child what you see: “I saw that. You’re working on that food.”
• If applicable, coach the child to take smaller bites or slow down, or finish chewing and
swallowing before taking another bite.
• Kneel down next to baby, so they look down at you—gravity helps to move the food forward.
• Do not put your fingers in the child’s mouth or try to pull out the food unless the food is
hanging from the child’s mouth and easy to retrieve.
• If your child is consistently gagging on a certain texture of food, consider taking a break from
that food for a short period of time.
• Provide opportunities for baby to practice with a resistive food teether
(see our resistive foods page) to help build chewing skill and desensitize the gag.
For more on gagging vs. choking, see our Gagging page.
Baby laughs when I coach them to spit. How to get them to spit without laughing?
Laughing is not necessarily an unwanted behavior at mealtimes. Sharing a meal with others fosters
conversation, storytelling, and some laughs. However, laughing with a mouthful of food can be
dangerous—inhaled food can become lodged in the airway. Continue to foster a positive and
enjoyable eating environment and redirect any situation to avoid the danger of laughing with a
mouthful of food:
• Avoid tickling your infant while eating.
• Foster a calm environment at the table with minimal distractions.
• If an infant starts laughing, encourage them to pause in their eating or to tilt their head
forward and spit out their food.
While sticking your tongue out to show baby how they can let food fall out of their mouth is effective
in teaching babies to spit, some babies find it funny. If this is the situation for you and baby is
laughing at your coaching, stop sticking out your tongue and stop saying,“Ahhh.” Instead, keep your
hand in front of their chin and patiently wait for them to stick their tongue out. When baby does not
have food in their mouth, continue to model how to spit out food by sticking out your tongue, which
allows them to watch and learn without extra risk.
We experienced something scary at the table. How do we ease anxiety at the table?
It’s normal to feel anxiety at the table after a scary event, whether gagging, choking, or something
else. It’s perfectly acceptable to offer easy-to-chew foods or mashes for a few days to help ease your
fear and rebuild confidence. Focusing on resistive food teethers that are very low risk but offer lots of
learning opportunities can rebuild your and baby’s confidence in eating. Additionally, try taking active
steps to calm your body before the meal—consider mindfulness exercise, notice your heart rate and
breathing, and actively take slow deep breaths. Remind yourself that you knew how to respond and
keep your child safe.
Is infant rescue advice different for each country? (Is your advice universal?)
In general, infant rescue is quite universal, although there may be subtle differences across countries.
The reason for these variations is that, unfortunately, there is no perfect or full-proof intervention. It
is best to always check with your local guidelines.
Common Non-Food Choking Hazards
Nearly half of all childhood choking incidents involve non-food items. The following items are among
the most common household non-food choking hazards. Take care to keep small items out of reach of
children and frequently check floors and child-level surfaces for hazards.
Non-Food Choking Hazards in the Kitchen
Can Pop-Tops Condiment Caps

& Pull Tabs & Wrappers Food Labels Food Packaging Foil Wrap Paper Wrap
Twist Ties,
Rubber Bands,
Plastic Wrap Sponge Parts Straws & Plastic Clips Water Bottle Caps
Non-Food Choking Hazards Around the House
Cough Drops
Batteries Buttons Chapsick Tubes & Caps Coins Paper Wraps Decorative Glass Beads
Paper Confetti,
Door Stop Caps Loose Pieces of Paper Inflatable Plastic, Foam
& Springs Erasers & Stationery Magnets Packets Polystyrene Packing
Ring, Earrings,
Paper Clips Pens & Pen Caps Pills & Other Jewelry
Non-Food Choking Hazards in the Playroom
Charm Bracelets
& Other Toy Jewelry Bucky Balls
Balloons (Deflated) Beads (Glass & Plastic) with Beads Collectibe Rocks Confetti & Other Toy Magnets
Legos & Other Small

Toy Pieces Toy Marbles Water Beads
References
1
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015). Responding to a Choking Emergency. HealthyChildren.Org. Retrieved 2022, from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/
health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/Responding-to-a-Choking-Emergency.aspx
2
Basic Life Support. (2020). American Heart Association. ISBN: 978-1-61669-799-0
3
Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization. (2017). American Heart Association. ISBN: 978-1-61669-553-8
4
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020 on CDC WONDER Online Database, re-
leased in 2021. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 1999-2020, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital
Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html on Mar 6, 2022
5
Chapin, M. M., Rochette, L. M., Annest, J. L., Haileyesus, T., Conner, K. A., & Smith, G. A. (2013). Nonfatal Choking on Food Among Children 14 Years or Younger in the
United States, 2001–2009. Pediatrics, 132(2), 275–281. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-0260
6
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2002). Nonfatal Choking-Related Episodes Among Children—United States, 2001. JAMA, 288(19), 2400.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.19.2400-jwr1120-2-
7
Phinizy, P. A. (2020). (2020). Foreign Body Aspiration: The Role of the Pediatric Pulmonologist. Diagnostic and Interventional Bronchoscopy in Children, 317–331.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54924-4_25
8
Eren, E., Balci, A. E., Dikici, B., Doblan, M., & Eren, M. N. (2003). Foreign body aspiration in children: experience of 1160 cases. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics, 23(1),
31–37. https://doi.org/10.1179/000349803125002959
9
Chapin, M. M., Rochette, L. M., Annest, J. L., Haileyesus, T., Conner, K. A., & Smith, G. A. (2013). Nonfatal Choking on Food Among Children 14 Years or Younger in the
United States, 2001–2009. Pediatrics, 132(2), 275–281. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-0260
10
Sidell, D. R., Kim, I. A., Coker, T. R., Moreno, C., & Shapiro, N. L. (2013). Food choking hazards in children. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology,
77(12), 1940–1946. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.09.005
11
Basic Life Support. (2020). American Heart Association. ISBN: 978-1-61669-799-0
12
13
Millin, M. G., Bogumil, D., Fishe, J. N., & Burke, R. V. (2020, March). Comparing the two-finger versus two-thumb technique for single person infant CPR: A systematic
review and meta-analysis. Resuscitation, 148, 161–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2019.12.039
14
Choking: First aid. (2020). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637
15
American Red Cross Training Services. (2022). How to Perform Child and Baby CPR. Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/child-baby-cpr
16
17
Hon, K. L., Tan, Y. W., Leung, K., Hui, W. F., Cheung, W. L., & Chung, F. S. (2022). Rib Fractures Postcardiac Chest Compressions. Pediatric emergency care, 38(4),
e1236. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000002687
18
Millin, M. G., Bogumil, D., Fishe, J. N., & Burke, R. V. (2020, March). Comparing the two-finger versus two-thumb technique for single person infant CPR: A systematic
review and meta-analysis. Resuscitation, 148, 161–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2019.12.039
19
Choking: First aid. (2020). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637
20
American Red Cross Training Services. (2022). How to Perform Child and Baby CPR. Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/child-baby-cpr
21
22
Nolan, J. P., Maconochie, I., Soar, J., Olasveengen, T. M., Greif, R., Wyckoff, M. H., Singletary, E. M., Aickin, R., Berg, K. M., Mancini, M. E., Bhanji, F., Wyllie, J., Zide-
man, D., Neumar, R. W., Perkins, G. D., Castrén, M., Morley, P. T., Montgomery, W. H., Nadkarni, V. M., . . . Hazinski, M. F. (2020b). Executive Summary: 2020 Interna-
tional Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. Circulation, 142(16_suppl_1).
https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000000890
23
Gal, L. L., Pugliesi, P., & Peterman, D. (2021). Resuscitation Of Pediatric Choking Victims Using The Lifevac, A Novel Portable Non-Powered Suction Device: World-
wide Results. Pediatrics, 147(3), 412–413. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.147.3MA4.412b
24
Hon, K. L., Tan, Y. W., Leung, K., Hui, W. F., Cheung, W. L., & Chung, F. S. (2022). Rib Fractures Postcardiac Chest Compressions. Pediatric emergency care, 38(4),
e1236. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000002687
By:
Kimberly Grenawitzke, OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT
Rachel Ruiz, MD Board-Certified General Pediatrician & Pediatric Gastroenterologist
Last updated: July 26, 2023
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Infant Rescue:

Choking First Aid

Emergency rescue number:

Child’s date of birth:

Date of Last Choking Date of Last

Choking vs. Gagging

Retching, coughing, or crying:

Panicked, silent, or wheezing:

Mild airway obstruction:

Severe airway obstruction:

• Inability to make noise or cry

What to do if Your Infant is Choking

How one responds to a choking incident depends on a number

1 Lean infant forward or get below eye

Do not offer the infant anything to eat or drink while coughing.

Lay the infant face down along your

3 forearm, ensuring that their head is

5 If 5 back blows are unsuccessful, turn the

If an infant is unconscious or not responsive, start CPR immediately.

1 Carefully place the infant on a firm,

2 Shout for help or dial Emergency Services (e.g., 9-1-1)

Begin CPR using 2 finger technique.

(Alternatively, you can place both

Administer 2 rescue breaths. Breathe into the

5 infant’s mouth for about one second (your mouth

1 If the infant is in a highchair, remove them.

Carefully lay the infant face down along

With the heel of an open hand, apply

3 up to 5 forceful blows in between the

If the infant starts coughing, stop If back blows are unsuccessful,

Using 2 fingers of your free hand,

4 Administer 5 quick chest thrusts.

5 If 5 chest thrusts are unsuccessful and infant is still conscious,

Find the infant’s nipple line and place

Alternatively, you can place both thumbs

4 Administer 30 compressions. Push down hard and fast

Administer 2 rescue breaths. Gently open the infant’s airway

6 Repeat steps 4 and 5 until help arrives or until object is dislodged.

Should I get a device like the LifeVac or Dechoker?

When would you intervene with gagging?

For more on gagging vs. choking, see our Gagging page.

Non-Food Choking Hazards in the Kitchen

Can Pop-Tops Condiment Caps

Non-Food Choking Hazards Around the House

Non-Food Choking Hazards in the Playroom

Legos & Other Small

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Solid Starts - Infant Rescue - Choking First Aid & CPR

Solid Starts - Infant Rescue - Choking First Aid & CPR