THE CHOKING BABY

CONTENT

Preventing choking

How the choking baby acts

What to do

Call the doctor if….

PREVENTING CHOKING

1.Choking can be prevented most of the time.

2.It is now recommended an infant placed on their back when sleeping. This position has been shown to decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

3.Stomach-lying (prone position) and side-lying are no longer recomended for sleep.

4.Do not prop the baby’s bottle.

5.Do not give children under 4 years of age peanuts, popcorn, hard candy, round pieces of hot dog, gum, whole grapes, or foods on which they may choke.

6.Baby toys should not have small parts that can break off. Toy sizes should be at least 1¼ inches by 2½ inches round.

7.Baby should not be able to get to small objects like marbles, jacks, etc.

8.Jewelry should not be placed on babies or children under 4 years of age.

HOW THE CHOKING BABY ACTS

1.He may make gasping movements but not make any sounds.

2.He may turn blue.

3.He may cough and gag.

4.He may recover from choking, but continue to wheeze or have coughing spells.

WHAT TO DO

1.Look inside the baby’s mouth to see if there is an object.

2.If you see the object, remove it.

a.Be careful not to push it farther into the throat.

3.If you do not see the object, do not try to find it with your finger.

a.This may push the object farther into the throat.

  1. If the baby cannot breathe, cough or is turning blue:

a.Turn the baby face down across your arm or face down on your lap, with his head lower than his bottom.

b.Give 5 brisk back blows with the heel of your hand between the shoulder blades.

c.Turn the baby onto his back and give 5 chest thrusts (position your fingers like for chest compressions: 1 finger width below the nipple line).

d.After each cycle (back blows/chest thrusts), look in the baby’s mouth

5.

If you see the object in the baby’s mouth / If the baby becomes unconscious (passes out)
1.Remove the object with your finger
Do not put your finger in the baby’s mouth unless you see the object / 1.Position the baby with the tip of the nose straight up and holding his jaw forward
2.Place the baby on his back.
3.Try to give him 2 more slow puffs with your mouth to check if the object has moved so that it no longer blocks the airway / 2.Give the baby 2 slow puffs with the air in your mouth

4.If you still cannot get air into the baby’s lungs, repeat the back blows and chest thrusts / 3.If the chest does not move with the puffs, repeat the back blows and chest thrusts
5.Again try to give the baby 2 breaths
6.Use the bulb syringe to remove any visible mucus or formula
Do this quickly without panicking!!! / 4.Look in the baby’s mouth;
  • If you see the object, remove it
  • If you do not see the object, repeat the back blows and chest presses

7.If the baby stops breathing and his heart rate is less than 80 beats per minute, begin CPR / 5.Repeat steps until the baby’s airway is clear and he is breathing
6.If the baby stops breathing and his heart rate is less than 80 beats per minute, begin CPR

6.You need to call for medical help if the baby passes out or if the object is not removed within 1-2 minutes, even if the baby does not pass out.

CALL THE DOCTOR IF…

  1. The choking episode has been serious and lasted a long time.
  2. The baby continues to cough or wheeze, the object is probably still in his breathing passages. Get prompt medical care for the baby.

Reviewed/Revised:

11/96, 2/98, 6/01, 2/03, 3/05, 4/07, 1/10

Choking Baby 1