What to Do If Your Baby Is Choking

First, tell choking from coughing

A baby who is coughing forcefully, crying, or making sounds is moving air, and the best thing you can do is let them keep coughing. Do not slap the back or put your fingers in the mouth.

Step in only when the airway is truly blocked: the baby cannot breathe, cannot cough or cry, makes high-pitched or no sound, or starts to turn blue. Then act immediately and have someone call 911.

Step by step: conscious choking baby (under 1 year)

Repeat the back-blow and chest-thrust cycle until the object comes out, the baby can breathe or cry, or the baby becomes unresponsive.

• Call 911 now. If someone is with you, send them to call while you start care. If you are alone, see the note below on when to call.
• Position for back blows: hold the baby face-down along your forearm, rest your forearm on your thigh, keep the baby's head lower than the chest, and support the head and jaw with your hand.
• Give 5 back blows: use the heel of your hand to strike firmly between the shoulder blades, 5 times.
• Turn the baby over: support the head and turn the baby face-up, keeping the head lower than the body.
• Give 5 chest thrusts: place 2 fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line, in the center of the chest, and push straight down about 1.5 inches (4 cm), 5 times.
• Repeat: alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object is forced out or the baby stops responding.

Infant technique at a glance

Key numbers for a baby under 1 year. Use back blows and chest thrusts only — no abdominal thrusts.

Action	How many	Where / how	Depth
Back blows	5	Heel of hand, between the shoulder blades, baby face-down and head low	Firm
Chest thrusts	5	2 fingers on breastbone just below the nipple line, baby face-up and head low	About 1.5 in (4 cm)
CPR compressions (if unresponsive)	30, then 2 breaths	2 fingers center of chest, on a firm flat surface	About 1.5 in (4 cm), rate 100-120/min

If the baby becomes unresponsive

Move quickly and start CPR.

• Lower the baby onto a firm, flat surface.
• Begin CPR: 30 chest compressions with 2 fingers in the center of the chest, about 1.5 inches deep, at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
• Before giving 2 rescue breaths, open the mouth and look. Remove an object only if you can see it; do not sweep blindly with your finger, which can push it deeper.
• Continue cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until the baby responds or help arrives.

When to call 911

Call 911 immediately for any baby who cannot breathe. If another person is present, have them call while you give care. If you can put the phone on speaker, call right away and start care at the same time.

If you are completely alone with an unresponsive baby, the long-standing guidance is to give about 2 minutes of care first and then call 911. Putting the dispatcher on speakerphone lets you keep your hands free to help your baby.

These skills are much easier to do correctly when you have practiced them in person. A printed or on-screen guide does not replace a hands-on class. Sign up for a certified CPR and first-aid course through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, and refresh it about every 2 years.

Lower the risk: common choking hazards

Keep these away from babies and young children, and watch closely during meals.

• Whole grapes, nuts and seeds, popcorn, raw vegetable or fruit chunks, hot dogs, chunks of meat or cheese
• Hard, gooey, or sticky candy, chewing gum, marshmallows, thick globs of peanut butter
• Coins, marbles, small balls, balloons, pen caps, toys with small parts
• Button and lithium coin batteries — store them locked away

Reflects the 2025 AHA/AAP CPR guidelines and American Red Cross first-aid guidance, 2024-2026.

Related questions

Why can't I use the Heimlich on a baby?

Abdominal thrusts are not recommended for infants under 1 year because they can injure a baby's organs. For babies, use 5 back blows alternating with 5 chest thrusts instead. Abdominal thrusts are used for older children and adults.

How hard should I push during infant back blows and chest thrusts?

Back blows should be firm, using the heel of your hand between the shoulder blades. Chest thrusts use 2 fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line, pushing about 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep. Firm, deliberate force is needed — gentle taps will not clear a blocked airway.

What if the object comes out but my baby seems fine?

Still have your baby checked by a doctor. A choking episode can leave irritation, or a piece of the object may remain in the airway. If your baby has any ongoing coughing, noisy breathing, or trouble feeding afterward, seek care.

Do I really need an in-person class?

Yes. Reading the steps helps, but choking and CPR are physical skills that are far more reliable after hands-on practice with a trained instructor. The Red Cross and American Heart Association offer certified infant CPR and first-aid classes, and refreshing every couple of years keeps the steps fresh.

Sources & further reading

1. AAP HealthyChildren — AHA, AAP Update CPR Guidelines (2025)
2. American Red Cross — Infant Choking: How To Help
3. American Red Cross — How to Perform Child and Baby CPR
4. Mayo Clinic — Choking: First aid
5. AAP HealthyChildren — Choking Prevention for Babies & Children

This article reflects current AAP, CDC, FDA, and other public-health guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.