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Choking in Babies (Under 1 Year)
What to do
- If the baby is coughing effectively and crying, let them cough and watch closely — do not intervene.
- If the baby cannot cough effectively, is silent or is struggling to breathe, call 911 on speakerphone or shout for help.
- Back blows: sit down and lay the baby face-down along your forearm or thigh, head lower than the body, supporting the jaw with your fingers (not squeezing the throat). Give up to 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand, checking after each.
- If the blockage remains, turn the baby face-up along your other arm, head still low. Give up to 5 chest thrusts: two fingers in the centre of the chest, pushing down by about one third of the chest depth — sharper and slower than CPR compressions.
- Alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts, checking the mouth each cycle. Pick out only an object you can clearly see.
- If the baby becomes unresponsive, place them on a firm surface, confirm 911 has been called, and start baby CPR.
What NOT to do
- Never give a baby abdominal thrusts — they can damage the liver and other organs.
- Do not sweep the mouth blindly — you can push the object further in.
- Do not hold the baby upside down by the feet.
- Do not squeeze the soft tissues under the baby's jaw when supporting the head.
When to get medical care
Call 911 immediately if a baby's cough is ineffective or the blockage does not clear at once. After any episode where chest thrusts were needed, or if the baby is coughing, wheezing, dribbling or feeding poorly afterwards, get urgent medical assessment.
Related procedures & tests
Related symptoms
Watch: related videos
Frequently asked questions
Why are chest thrusts used instead of abdominal thrusts for babies?
A baby's liver sits partly under the ribs and is easily injured by abdominal thrusts. Chest thrusts create the same pressure change in the airway without that risk, which is why guidelines use back blows plus chest thrusts under 1 year.
What do babies choke on most often?
Milk or food that goes down the wrong way, and small objects or food pieces — grapes, nuts, coins, button batteries and small toy parts. Keep small objects out of reach, and cut round foods lengthwise before serving.
In an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) first — do not delay a call to read a guide. These pages are educational first-aid information in general terms; they are not a substitute for emergency services, first-aid training, or assessment by a qualified clinician.
