Steps to take if your baby is choking
For babies under 12 months.
If your baby is choking, they may not make any noise.
If your baby becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR.
Emergencies - CPR For Babies Under 12 Months
If your baby is conscious, follow these steps:
Call 111 (in New Zealand) and ask for urgent medical help.
Place your baby face down along your forearm or across your lap, with their head lower than their body. Support their head and jaw.
Give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check to see if the blockage has cleared
An image showing how to give back blows.
If the blockage hasn't cleared, turn your baby over to face up with their head lower than their body.
Give up to 5 slow chest thrusts. Use 2 fingers of one hand, over the centre of the chest at the nipple line. Check to see if the blockage has cleared.
An image showing how to give chest thrusts.
Only remove the object if you can see it.
Continue back blows and chest thrusts until the object comes out. If your baby becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR.
Acknowledgements
Images of woman with baby reproduced courtesy of St John Ambulance, UK.
