Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Do these four things immediately if your baby is choking

Sarah Prager
By

One of the scariest moments as a parent is when everything goes from normal one minute to an emergency the next. You want to be prepared for if that moment comes, especially when it comes to knowing exactly what to do if your baby is choking.

If you suspect your baby is choking, stay calm and call for help while you start launching into the steps below. Assess the situation to know if you should move forward with first aid or not — if your baby is coughing or crying or breathing, then you should not perform the steps below. Read on to learn all about exactly what to do if your baby is choking.

asian baby eating tomato
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What to do if a baby is choking

First, according to the National Library of Medicine, tell someone to call 911 while you begin first aid and shout for help to alert anyone nearby.

Recommended Videos

Experts advise, “DO NOT perform choking first aid if the infant is coughing forcefully, has a strong cry, or is breathing enough.” Coughing on his or her own is the best way for a baby to clear the airway and you shouldn’t interfere in any way, including by trying to grasp the object or pull it out. You could end up pushing the object further down the baby’s windpipe. If the baby is coughing, crying, or breathing, do not engage physically because these sounds mean the child is able to draw breath.

how to do choking first aid on baby
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How do I stop my baby from choking?

If your baby is not coughing forcefully or does not have a strong cry, follow these four steps:

Related

Lay your baby along your forearm face down and give five quick, forceful blows between the baby’s shoulder blades.

Use your thigh or lap for support and hold the baby’s chest in your hand and their jaw with your fingers. Point their head down and keep it lower than their body. Use your palm to make the blows.

If the object does not come out of the airway after five blows, turn your baby face up and give five quick thrusts on the chest.

Use your thigh or lap to support your baby’s head while they are face up. Place two fingers on the middle of their breastbone just below the nipples. Give up to five quick thrusts down, compressing the chest one-third to one-half the depth of the chest.

Continue five back blows followed by five chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the infant becomes unconscious.

If the item becomes dislodged, still follow up with your baby’s doctor afterward even if your child seems fine.

If the baby becomes unresponsive, give them CPR and call 911.

If the baby stops breathing, becomes unconscious, or turns blue, shout for help, start giving CPR, and call 911. At this point, if you can see the object blocking the airway, try to remove it with your finger (only if you can see it).

What do babies choke on most?

The size of a young child’s windpipe is about the width of a drinking straw, so anything larger than that could get lodged in it. That means the baby has to chew really well and keep anything smaller out of their mouth.

The most common cause of nonfatal choking in young children is food. Choking hazard foods include:

  • hot dogs (especially cut into a coin shape), meats, sausages, and fish with bones
  • popcorn, chips, pretzel nuggets, and snack foods
  • candy (especially hard or sticky candy), cough drops, gum, lollipops, marshmallows, caramels, hard candies, and jelly beans
  • whole grapes, raw vegetables, raw peas, fruits, fruits with skins, seeds, carrots, celery, and cherries
  • dried fruits, sunflower seeds, all nuts, including peanuts
  • peanut butter, (especially in spoonfuls or with soft white bread)
  • ice cubes and cheese cubes

When introducing solid foods to babies and feeding them to young children, cut up anything round like hot dogs and grapes to reduce choking hazards.

Babies also choke on household items. Coins, marbles, pen caps, button batteries, screws, bean bag chair stuffing, holiday decorations, erasers, earrings, rings, staples, balloons, medicine syringes, and small stones are all common culprits. Nearly half of all choking deaths among children are caused by balloons.

What to do if baby is choking: Assess first

If the baby can cough, cry, or breathe, do not stick your finger in their mouth, slap their back, move them, or otherwise touch them. Letting your baby cough is the best thing to do, and moving them around could move the object, making matters worse. However, if you know your child swallowed a dangerous item like a button battery that could corrode their organs, take them immediately to the emergency room.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Sarah Prager
Sarah Prager
Contributor
Sarah is a writer and mom who lives in Massachusetts. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, National…
Glass vs. plastic baby bottles: Here’s what doctors have to say
How to choose the best bottle for your little one
A cluster of different baby bottles in a bowl.

Having a baby can be overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. It means making endless decisions about day-to-day activities and how they can impact the baby's safety. Even something as simple as choosing the type of bottle to use becomes an important decision. Glass vs. plastic baby bottles: Which is a healthier choice?

A baby's bottle is a vital purchase, and it's certainly worth exploring all the factors when it comes to glass or plastic baby bottles for health, convenience, and cost concerns. There are trade-offs to consider with each. So, here's what parents need to know when it comes to glass vs. plastic baby bottles.
The scoop on plastic baby bottles
With all the concerns around chemicals in plastics, it's natural for parents to wonder if anything from a plastic baby bottle might find its way into their baby's milk.

Read more
What is a baby sprinkle (and how to plan a great one)
Why you should at least have a baby sprinkle even if you already have a child
Cake for a baby shower.

We all know the standard pregnancy celebrations. We've seen gender reveal photoshoots all over social media and have been invited or know someone who has gone to at least one baby shower. But what about when someone is having a second baby? Or is having the first girl after two back-to-back boys? Well, that's where having a baby sprinkle comes in handy. Whether it's been a few years since the last little one or you're having one of the opposite gender and only need a few items, here's why a baby sprinkle is the perfect way to welcome this new addition.
What is a baby sprinkle?

If you don't know anything about pregnancy parties, think of it in scientific terms. What is a shower versus a sprinkle when it rains? Not as much water for one as the other, right? Take that and apply it to a baby shower versus a baby sprinkle. Think of a baby sprinkle as that grocery trip where you only need the fillers, and you're not restocking the whole kitchen.
If you already have a baby
If you are parents to one child (or two or three), you probably have most of the stuff you need from the last child. But if there were items you wish you would have grabbed for the first one or you have a list of needs for this next baby, a sprinkle is the perfect forum to get those goods.
If it's been a few years since you've had a baby
Even if you already have a child, maybe this next one is a few years further away than you wanted or planned. A baby sprinkle is the best way to get those items you may have donated, lost, or broke with the first kiddo.
If you have only one gender but find out you are having the other
Have all boys? You will want a sprinkle to get some girl items. Have only girls? You might use a sprinkle to get at least one item that isn't pink. Not that certain colors are meant for boys or girls, but maybe you had a Minnie Mouse-themed nursery, and you'd like your first boy to have a new theme for their nursery.
Let's sprinkle the details
A baby sprinkle isn't going to be exactly like your baby shower. It's more of a low-key event, should be less stressful, and is less formal.

Read more
Why do toddlers hit themselves? The reasons may surprise you
Toddlers hitting themselves is on the list of strange behaviors a parent needs to know about
A little upset boy pulling at his hair

Kids often exhibit behavior that many parents can't understand. Toddlers especially know how to bring a bit of pizazz to the day. Their behavior can often be silly and spontaneous, but it can also be worrying. It's a jarring experience for any parent the first time their sweet baby reaches up and hits them. It's even more confusing for parents to see their toddler turn their anger inward and hit themself in the head or on their body. Why toddlers hit themselves can be something every parent struggles with.

Children who have never been physically disciplined may still hit themselves, scratch themselves, or pound their heads against walls or the floor when they're frustrated. Why do toddlers do this? Do they grow out of it? What do parents do to stop it? And when do you know whether you might need to seek professional guidance for your child? Let's dig into this part of toddlerdom most parents will have to deal with.
Why do toddlers hit themselves?

Read more