Baby first aid skills every parent should know

This article is a checklist and a quick reference, not a replacement for in-person training. The American Red Cross and most hospitals offer a 2-hour infant and child CPR class for around $50. Worth it.

1. Choking vs gagging — know the difference

This is the most important distinction. Babies gag often during eating. Gagging is loud, productive, and usually resolves itself in 20 to 60 seconds. Don't intervene.

Choking is silent. A choking baby cannot cough, cry, or make noise. Their lips may go blue. Their face will look panicked. If your baby is making noise, even if it sounds bad, they are breathing.

Action when choking: start back blows immediately (see step 2). Do not stick your finger in their mouth to "fish out" the object — you can push it deeper.

2. Back blows and chest thrusts for a choking infant under 1 year

For a baby under 1 year who is choking and silent:

1. Lay baby face-down along your forearm, head lower than feet. Support their jaw with your hand.
2. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
3. If the object hasn't come out, flip baby face-up along your other forearm.
4. Give 5 chest thrusts — two fingers pressing the breastbone just below the nipple line, pressing about 1.5 inches deep.
5. Repeat back blows + chest thrusts. Call 911 if not resolved after one cycle (have someone else call while you continue).
6. If baby becomes unresponsive, start infant CPR.

For children over 1 year, switch to abdominal thrusts (Heimlich). See Heimlich for choking toddlers.

3. Infant CPR

If your baby is unresponsive and not breathing:

1. Place baby on a hard, flat surface.
2. Tilt head slightly back and lift chin to open the airway.
3. Give 2 small breaths covering both nose and mouth — just enough to see the chest rise.
4. Begin compressions: 2 fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line, push 1.5 inches deep, at 100-120 per minute.
5. Cycle: 30 compressions, 2 breaths. Repeat until help arrives or baby responds.
6. If alone, do 2 minutes of CPR first, then call 911 and continue.

Detailed step-by-step at our infant CPR guide.

4. Burns

For a small burn (smaller than a quarter, not on face/hands/feet/genitals):

1. Run cool (not cold, not icy) water over the burn for 10 minutes.
2. Cover loosely with sterile gauze or a clean cloth.
3. Give weight-appropriate Tylenol or Motrin for pain.
4. Do not pop blisters. Do not apply butter, oil, or toothpaste — these trap heat and increase infection risk.

Go to the ER for burns larger than a quarter, on the face/hands/feet/genitals, or any burn that looks white or charred.

5. Falls and concussion

Most baby falls do not cause concussion. Babies have softer skulls and stronger neck reflexes than older children. But you should watch for:

• Loss of consciousness (any duration)
• Vomiting more than once after the fall
• Extreme drowsiness or hard-to-wake behavior
• Unequal pupils
• Bulging fontanelle (the soft spot)
• Bleeding from the ears or nose without obvious injury
• Seizure

Any one of these = call the pediatrician or go to the ER. If baby cries hard and then settles back to normal behavior, you can watch at home with a check-in to the pediatrician.

6. Fever and medication dosing

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is approved from 2 months and up by weight. Motrin (ibuprofen) is approved from 6 months and up by weight. Both must be dosed by weight, not age. Use the dose calculators above before any guessing.

A general rule: 15 mg of Tylenol per kg of baby weight, every 4-6 hours. Motrin: 10 mg per kg every 6-8 hours. Maximum 4 doses of either in 24 hours.

7. When to treat a fever vs call the pediatrician

• Under 3 months with any fever (100.4F / 38C rectal): Go to the ER. This is not optional.
• 3-6 months over 102F: Call pediatrician.
• 6 months and up: Treat per behavior, not the number. A baby with 103F who is playing is less concerning than a baby with 101F who is lethargic.

Walk through the decision tree on the fever symptom checker.

8. Anaphylaxis and EpiPen Jr

Anaphylaxis = a severe, fast-onset allergic reaction. Two body systems involved. Examples:

• Hives + vomiting
• Swollen lips + wheeze
• Trouble breathing + diarrhea

If you have an EpiPen Jr (for babies 22-66 lb) or EpiPen 0.1 (under 33 lb in some states):

1. Pull off the blue safety cap.
2. Press the orange tip firmly into the outer thigh — straight through clothing is fine.
3. Hold for 3 seconds. Listen for the click.
4. Massage the injection site for 10 seconds.
5. Call 911 immediately. EpiPen lasts about 15-20 minutes — they need a second dose if symptoms recur, plus hospital observation.

9. Febrile seizure

A febrile seizure happens in about 5% of toddlers during a high fever. Most last under 5 minutes. They are scary and usually not dangerous.

1. Put baby on the floor on their side (recovery position).
2. Move any objects away from their head.
3. Do NOT put anything in their mouth. Do NOT hold them down.
4. Time the seizure. Most stop within 5 minutes.
5. If seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or this is your child's first seizure, call 911.
6. After the seizure, call the pediatrician for next-step guidance.

10. Calling Poison Control

The number: 1-800-222-1222. Save it now. Tape it on the fridge. They are nurses and pharmacists. They will walk you through any potential ingestion in seconds.

What they will ask:

• Baby's weight and age
• What was ingested (read the label if you have it)
• How much (estimate)
• When it happened
• Symptoms so far

They will tell you: watch at home, go to the ER, or specific antidote steps. They will follow up by phone every 30 minutes until the situation resolves. This service is free.

For button battery or magnet ingestion, skip the call and go straight to the ER.

The class to take

Once you have read this article, take a 2-hour in-person infant + child CPR class. The American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and most hospitals offer them. Cost is usually $45-75. Bring your partner. Bring grandparents. Bring anyone who will ever be alone with your baby.

Online refreshers every 6 months are fine. Once a year, redo the in-person practice if you can. Hands need the repetition.

When to call the pediatrician

• Any unresponsive baby or any seizure: 911.
• Any suspected ingestion: Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) first, then pediatrician or 911 if Poison Control recommends.
• Any fall with vomiting, lethargy, or loss of consciousness: pediatrician or ER.
• Any burn larger than a quarter, on the face, hands, feet, or genitals: ER.
• Any breathing difficulty (retractions, grunting, blue lips): ER.