As you start weaning your baby, they may be at risk of choking. Find out what to look for and how to perform first aid.
When a baby is choking, their airway is partly or completely blocked meaning that they may be unable to breathe properly. As you start weaning your baby and they begin eating solid foods or playing with small objects, they may be at risk of choking.
A choking baby may:
be unable to breathe, cry, or cough
show signs of distress.
If your baby is under one year old, this advice will help you to know what to do if they choke.
If you think a baby is choking, then they need your help straight away. If they can breathe, are making noises, or coughing, then they may be able to clear their own airway.
If a baby cannot breathe, cry, or cough, they may be choking and you will need to give five back blows.
Lay the baby face down along your thigh and support their head
Give up to five back blows between the shoulder blades
Turn them over on your thigh and check their mouth each time. Remove any obvious visible obstruction.
Do not sweep the mouth as this could push the object further down the throat.
If back blows fail to clear the obstruction, give five chest thrusts.
Turn the infant onto their back and lay them on your knees
Use the two-thumb encircling technique to perform chest trusts as advised for chest compressions, but compress the sternum more sharply
Repeat up to five times, checking the mouth each time
Call 999 or 112 for emergency help if the obstruction hasn't cleared.
Take the baby with you to make the call.
Keep repeating five back blows and five chest thrusts until help arrives, checking their mouth each time.
If the baby becomes unresponsive at any point, carry out a Primary Survey DRABC assessment and start baby CPR if required.
All babies who have received chest thrusts should be seen in hospital.
