A baby choking is every parent’s nightmare — and it can happen in an instant. A piece of food, a small toy, or even a tablespoon of milk can partially or fully block a tiny airway. Knowing exactly what to do when your baby is choking, and being able to act without hesitation, can save your child’s life. This guide covers everything you need to know.
How to Tell If Your Baby Is Choking
Babies cannot tell you something is wrong, so you need to watch for these warning signs:
- Sudden inability to cry or make noise
- High-pitched wheezing or no sound at all when trying to breathe
- Skin turning red, then blue (cyanosis), especially around the lips
- Panicked facial expression and wide eyes
- Weak, ineffective coughing
Note: A baby who is coughing forcefully is not fully choking. A strong cough is the most effective way to clear an airway. Do not interfere — watch closely and be ready to act if the cough weakens.
The Two Types of Choking
Understanding the severity of the blockage determines your response:
Mild obstruction: Baby can cough, cry, or breathe. Encourage coughing and monitor closely. Do not perform back blows unless the situation worsens.
Severe obstruction: Baby cannot cry, cough, or breathe — or produces only weak sounds. Act immediately with the steps below.
Step-by-Step: What to Do When Your Baby Is Choking
Step 1: Call for Help
If someone else is with you, have them call 911 immediately. If you are alone, begin the rescue first, then call 911 after 2 minutes or as soon as you can.
Step 2: Position the Baby Face-Down
Hold the baby face-down along your left forearm, supporting the head and jaw with your left hand. The baby’s head should be lower than their chest. Rest your left forearm on your left thigh for support.
Step 3: Give 5 Back Blows
Using the heel of your right hand, deliver 5 firm back blows between the baby’s shoulder blades. Each blow should be distinct and forceful enough to dislodge the object. Do not hold back — the goal is to move the obstruction.
Step 4: Turn Baby Face-Up and Give 5 Chest Thrusts
Lay your right hand on the back of the baby’s head and your right forearm along the baby’s back, sandwiching the baby between your two forearms. Pass the baby from your left side to your right side, resting your right arm on your right thigh for support. This should turn the baby face-up, supporting the head. Place the heel of your right hand on the center of the chest, just below the nipple line. Give 5 quick downward chest thrusts, compressing about 1.5 inches deep.
Step 5: Repeat and Check
After each set of 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts, look in the baby’s mouth. If you can clearly see an object, carefully remove it with one finger. Never perform a blind finger sweep — this can push the object deeper. (Note: A blind finger sweep is when you cannot see the obstruction but use your finger to sweep for it anyway. If you’re unable to see the object, you may be pushing it further down with a sweep.)
Repeat the cycle of 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object is expelled, the baby begins breathing normally, or the baby becomes unconscious.
Step 6: If the Baby Becomes Unconscious
Lower the baby to a firm flat surface and begin infant CPR. Each time you open the airway to give a rescue breath, look for the object and remove it only if you can see it clearly.
What NOT to Do
- Do NOT perform a blind finger sweep inside the mouth
- Do NOT hold the baby upside down and shake them
- Do NOT perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on infants — this can cause organ damage
- Do NOT interfere with a strong, productive cough
- Do NOT wait to see if it resolves on its own if the baby cannot breathe
Common Choking Hazards for Babies
Prevention is your first line of defense. Keep these common hazards away from infants:
- Small food pieces: grapes, hot dogs, raw carrots, hard candies, nuts
- Small toys and toy parts, coins, buttons
- Balloons — especially deflated pieces
- Hair ties, safety pins, magnets
- Chunks of cheese or meat larger than a pea
Use a toilet paper roll to identify objects that pose a threat for choking. Simply put the object through the toilet paper roll. If an object will go through a toilet paper roll, keep it out of reach.
The Confidence That Only Practice Builds
Reading about what to do when your baby is choking is the first step. But when a real emergency hits, panic sets in and knowledge fades fast. The parents who respond effectively are the ones who have practiced these techniques with their hands, not just their eyes.
Our Newborn Safety Essentials Program includes hands-on choking response training, infant CPR, and first aid — all delivered by an American Heart Association-certified instructor in under 60 minutes.
Conclusion
Knowing what to do when your baby is choking can be the most important skill you ever learn as a parent. The technique takes minutes to learn but provides a lifetime of peace of mind. Get trained before you need it.
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