**I am NOT a medical professional and am in NO WAY responsible for the outcome of using the information provided here. This article is for informational purposes only. You should always seek professional advice when it comes to emergency events and information.
When becoming a parent you are worried about getting the house ready for baby, making sure you have clothes, and diapers, and everything you will need for their arrival. But sadly, for most parents, learning things such as CPR or the Heimlich maneuver never crosses their mind.
These 2 things are among some of the most important things any parent should know before the actual need to learn them.
For me, I did a ton of research, watched videos, and attended parenting classes, but these things were not even a thought. When my son choked the very first time, I realized how important it is to know how to save my baby’s life in the event of an emergency. Luckily, it was only a little scare, but it was enough to motivate me.
Since then, I have found a ton of resources, and places to get certified, or just have the information on hand and I want to share this information with you so that you can be prepared.
How to Perform Infant CPR for Babies Less Than One Year of Age
Call 911 If there is someone else at home with you, have them call for help immediately. If you’re alone, you can start CPR. If after two minutes there is still no response, call 911. Once you give the emergency operator your info, you can continue to administer CPR until help arrives.
Decide whether CPR is necessary
Shout and tap. Call out your child’s name and gently tap him on the shoulder. If there is no response and the baby is not breathing (or not breathing normally), position the infant on his back to begin CPR.
Remember CAB-
According to the American Heart Association, performing CPR on a baby comes down to three steps:
Circulation:
1. Place the baby on his back on a firm, flat surface, such as the floor or table.
2. Place two fingers of one hand just below an imaginary horizontal line between baby’s nipples.
3. Gently compress the chest, pumping at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.
Airway:
After 30 compressions, gently tip the head back with one hand and lift his chin slightly with the other.
Breathing:
1. Cover the baby’s mouth and nose with your mouth.
2. Give a gentle puff of air in baby’s mouth, wait one second, and then give a second puff of air. Watch to see if the baby’s chest rises. If it does, give another rescue breath. If the chest does not rise, repeat the head-tilt maneuver and then give the next breath.
3. Give two breaths after every 30 chest compressions.
4. Continue CPR until you see signs of life or until medical personnel arrive.
Where are Classes Available for Infant CPR?
Choking Rescue Procedure (Heimlich Maneuver) – Babies Younger Than 1 Year
If the baby can cough or make sounds, let him or her cough to try to get the object out. If you are worried about the baby’s breathing, call 911 immediately.
If a baby can’t breathe, cough, or make sounds, then:
1. Put the baby face down on your forearm so the baby’s head is lower than his or her chest.
2. Support the baby’s head in your palm, against your thigh. Don’t cover the baby’s mouth or twist his or her neck.
3. Use the heel of one hand to give up to 5 back slaps between the baby’s shoulder blades.
4. If the object does not pop out, support the baby’s head and turn him or her faceup on your thigh. Keep the baby’s head lower than his or her body.
5. Place 2 or 3 fingers just below the nipple line on the baby’s breastbone and give 5 quick chest thrusts (same position as chest compressions in CPR for a baby).
6. Keep giving 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts until the object comes out or the baby faints.
If the baby faints, call 911 (if you haven’t called already).
Then:
- Do not do any more back slaps or chest thrusts.
- Start CPR (see above for CPR instructions). If you do rescue breaths, look for an object in the mouth or throat each time the airway is opened during CPR. If you see the object, take it out. But if you can’t see the object, don’t stick your finger down the baby’s throat to feel for it.
- Keep doing CPR until the baby is breathing on his or her own or until help arrives.
If you are considering hiring a babysitter or becoming one, this course can also be a huge help.
Printable Charts for Parents
These things are very important for any parent or family member to know when caring for a little one. It really could save a life. For me, knowing the steps to help my son helps to ease my mind. There are so many children that die each year because the parents lacked the information to administer the steps to help their child in one of these events. Don’t become a part of those statistics. Register for a local class today.
For more information on classes, please visit American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or WebMD
*Information in this article was obtained from Parents.com, WebMD, American Heart Association, & American Red Cross websites. Information is subject to change and should be checked regularly for accuracy.
This article was very helpful. I took basic CPR years ago, but I needed the reminder!