MemorialCare - Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care

Infant Choking (under 1 year of age)

These instructions DO NOT take the place of a class where you are trained and given time to practice these skills on a manikin.

Choking can be scary...IF IT HAPPENS! Little ones tend to put anything they can get their hands on into their mouths. If a small object gets lodged in the windpipe and your baby cannot cough, breathe or cry, it is important to dislodge it as soon as possible. The following will help you understand how to help your baby if he is awake (responsive) and choking: 1. Place your baby face down along your arm. Support the head by holding his jaw. Make sure his head is lower than his body. 2. With the heel of your hand, deliver 5 quick back slaps between the shoulder blades. 3. Turn the baby over onto your other arm. Your baby is now facing up. 4. While supporting the head and body, deliver 5 downward chest thrusts using 2 fingers positioned a finger width below the nipple line. Make sure his head is lower than his body. 5. If you do not dislodge the object, repeat with 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts until the object is dislodged or the infant becomes unresponsive. 6. If the infant becomes unresponsive, begin CPR as outlined on page 63. 7. Between giving puffs of air, look into the baby’s mouth to see if the object is visible. If the object is not seen, do not attempt a blind finger sweep. Continue with CPR. Notes __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Remember, only use finger sweep if you can see the object in the baby’s mouth.

64

Your Guide to Postpartum and Newborn Care