How to Do the Heimlich Maneuver on a Baby

Choking is one of the primary causes of disease and death in children under the age of 3. According to a 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement in "Pediatrics," infants account for 30.5 percent of non-fatal choking episodes in children 14 and under. Sixty-five percent of fatal choking episodes on non-food related items occur in children less than 3 years old. One well-known method for helping a person who is choking is the Heimlich maneuver. By learning the correct technique for performing this maneuver on an infant, you may save the life of your -- or someone else's -- baby.

Instructions

    • 1

      Identify signs that a baby is choking. If a baby is coughing or gagging, his throat is only partially obstructed, and you should allow him to try to cough the blockage out himself. However, a baby who can't cry or cough, and whose face is turning blue or red, needs immediate help to dislodge the object blocking his airway.

    • 2

      Yell for someone to call 911 if you are with other people. If you are alone, call 911 yourself while you begin to perform the Heimlich maneuver. Even if you successfully perform the Heimlich maneuver, you still want to get medical help on the way as quickly as possible.

    • 3

      Check the baby's mouth to see if you can see the object making him choke. If you can see the object, sweep your finger gently through his mouth to try to remove it. Do not reach your finger into her mouth without looking, since you could end up pushing the object farther down her throat.

    • 4

      Lay the baby on your forearm with his face down, his head lower than the rest of his body and your arm resting against your leg. Support his head with your palm. If he is too heavy for you to support with your arm, hold him across your lap. Give four firm blows to the baby's back with the heel of your hand.

    • 5

      Turn the baby face-up, holding him against your forearm with his head cupped in your palm or laying him on the ground. Place your fingertips on his sternum, which is located a finger-width down from the middle of an imaginary line between his nipples. Deliver four upward chest thrusts between one half to one inch deep.

    • 6

      Repeat back blows and chest thrusts until the baby starts crying or coughing -- at which point you should stop and let him attempt to dislodge the object himself -- or until medical help arrives.

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