First aid for babies can limit harm while help is coming. This guide covers CPR, choking, bleeding, burns, poisoning, seizures, and essential supplies.
- Call emergency services for an unresponsive baby, abnormal breathing, severe bleeding, a seizure lasting five minutes, or blue or gray skin.
- For infant CPR, give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths and repeat.
- For a choking but responsive baby, alternate 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts.
- Never use abdominal thrusts on a baby or sweep a finger blindly inside the mouth.
- Take a hands-on infant CPR and first aid course before an emergency happens.
First Aid for Babies Starts With Three Checks
Start by checking the scene, the baby, and the need for emergency help. Do not rush into traffic, fire, smoke, water, electricity, or another danger.
- Check safety. Remove the danger only when you can do so safely. Use gloves or another barrier if blood or body fluids are present.
- Check response and breathing. Call the baby’s name, tap the bottom of the foot, and look for normal breathing and life-threatening bleeding. Check for no more than 10 seconds.
- Call and care. If the baby is unresponsive, not fully awake, not breathing normally, only gasping, or bleeding severely, call emergency services and begin the care you know.
The American Red Cross baby first aid guidance uses this check, call, and care sequence. If another person is nearby, send them to call and bring an automated external defibrillator, or AED.
| Emergency | First Action | Do Not |
|---|---|---|
| Unresponsive and not breathing normally | Call emergency services and begin CPR with 30 compressions and 2 breaths. | Do not wait to see if the baby improves. |
| Responsive but choking | Give 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts. Repeat until the object clears or baby becomes unresponsive. | Do not use abdominal thrusts or blind finger sweeps. |
| Severe bleeding | Apply firm, steady direct pressure with gauze or a clean cloth and call emergency services. | Do not pull out an embedded object. |
| Burn | Cool under cool running water for 20 minutes and arrange medical care. | Do not use ice, butter, creams, or adhesive dressings. |
| Possible poisoning | Contact poison control immediately and keep the package nearby. | Do not induce vomiting or give food or drink unless directed. |
| Seizure | Clear the area, protect the head, time it, and call for medical help. | Do not restrain the baby or put anything in the mouth. |
How to Give Infant CPR
Give infant CPR when a baby is unresponsive and is not breathing normally or is only gasping. Call emergency services and use speakerphone so the dispatcher can coach you.
- Place the baby face up on a firm, flat surface.
- Put two thumbs side by side in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line, while your fingers encircle the chest and support the back. A trained single rescuer may use the heel of one hand when it fits the baby’s chest.
- Give 30 compressions at 100 to 120 per minute. Press at least one-third the depth of the chest, about 1.5 inches or 4 centimeters. Let the chest return fully after each push.
- Open the airway in a neutral position. Seal your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose and give 2 gentle breaths, about 1 second each, using only enough air to make the chest rise.
- Continue cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths. Use an AED as soon as it is available and follow its prompts.
What to Do When a Baby Is Choking
A baby who can cough forcefully or cry may still be moving air. Stay close and let the baby cough. Act when the baby cannot cry, cough, or breathe effectively, makes little or no sound, or begins turning blue.
Five Back Blows
Sit or kneel. Lay the baby face down along your forearm or thigh, supporting the head and jaw. Keep the head lower than the chest. Give 5 firm blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
Five Chest Thrusts
Turn the baby face up while supporting the head and neck. Keep the head lower than the chest.
Place two fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line and give 5 quick chest thrusts.
Repeat 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object comes out or the baby becomes unresponsive.
If the baby becomes unresponsive, lower them to a firm, flat surface, call emergency services, and begin CPR.
Before giving breaths, look in the mouth and remove an object only if you can clearly see and easily reach it. Never sweep blindly.
How to Stop Serious Bleeding
Control serious bleeding with firm, direct pressure and emergency help. Place sterile gauze or a clean cloth over the wound and press continuously.
If blood soaks through, add more material on top and keep pressing. Do not lift the first layer to check repeatedly because that can disturb clotting. If an object is embedded, press around it and leave removal to clinicians.
Keep the baby warm and still. Pale or cool skin, unusual sleepiness, weakness, or fast breathing may signal shock. Do not give food or drink.
First Aid for Baby Burns
Cool a burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, then seek medical advice because babies have delicate skin and can lose heat and fluid quickly.
Remove nearby clothing or jewelry only if it is not stuck. Keep the rest of the baby warm. After cooling, cover the burn loosely with sterile, nonstick material.
Call emergency services for breathing trouble, electrical or chemical burns, deep or charred skin, or a large burn.
Get urgent medical care for burns involving the face, eyes, hands, feet, genitals, joints, or airway. Never use ice, toothpaste, butter, oils, or creams.
Poisoning and Swallowed Objects
Contact poison control immediately if a baby may have swallowed, inhaled, or touched a harmful substance. Do not wait for symptoms.
In the United States, use webPOISONCONTROL or call 1-800-222-1222. Elsewhere, use your national poison information service. Call emergency services if the baby collapses, has a seizure, struggles to breathe, or cannot be awakened.
Do not make the baby vomit or give anything by mouth unless a poison specialist directs it. Keep the product or a photo nearby and report the amount, time, symptoms, age, and weight.
Seizures and Head Injuries
Protect a baby from injury during a seizure and time it from start to finish. Move hard objects away, cushion the head, loosen tight clothing, and place the baby on their side once movements stop if breathing normally.
Do not hold the baby down or place fingers, medicine, or any object in the mouth. Call emergency services for a first seizure, one lasting five minutes or longer, repeated seizures without recovery, breathing difficulty, injury, or a seizure in water.
After a head bump, seek emergency care for loss of consciousness, seizure, repeated vomiting, unequal pupils, worsening drowsiness, weakness, or abnormal behavior. Call the pediatrician about any concerning injury.
Allergic Reactions and Fever
Use prescribed epinephrine immediately for signs of anaphylaxis, then call emergency services. Warning signs include trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips or tongue, widespread hives with vomiting, sudden limpness, or collapse.
Do not delay epinephrine to try an antihistamine. Position the baby as the emergency dispatcher advises and follow the prescribed action plan.
Fever also needs age-based action. A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under 3 months needs immediate medical guidance.
At any age, seek urgent help for difficult breathing, blue or gray skin, severe drowsiness, dehydration, a stiff neck, or a rash that does not fade with pressure.
What to Put in a Baby First Aid Kit
A useful kit contains simple supplies you know how to use, plus emergency contacts and the baby’s medical details. Keep one at home and a smaller kit in the diaper bag.
| Kit Item | Purpose | Safety Note |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency contacts and medical information | Gives caregivers fast access to emergency, poison control, pediatrician, allergy, and medicine details. | Update contacts and the baby’s current weight regularly. |
| Digital thermometer | Measures temperature more accurately than touch. | Use the method recommended for the baby’s age. |
| Sterile gauze, nonstick pads, and bandages | Covers small wounds and supports direct pressure. | Check packaging and replace expired or opened items. |
| Disposable gloves and hand sanitizer | Reduces contact with blood and body fluids. | Sanitizer does not replace handwashing when hands are visibly dirty. |
| Saline, tweezers, and small scissors | Supports basic cleaning and simple care. | Do not dig into wounds or remove embedded objects. |
| Medicine syringe and prescribed emergency medicine | Helps give an exact dose or follow an allergy plan. | Include only labeled products approved for that baby. |
| Instant cold pack and clean cloth | Can ease a minor bump when wrapped in cloth. | Never place a cold pack directly on baby’s skin. |
- Store the kit where adults can reach it quickly but children cannot.
- Add a CPR face shield only if your course teaches its use.
- Include a copy of the baby’s allergy and emergency action plans.
- Check medicines, batteries, packaging, and expiration dates every three months.
- Tell every caregiver where the kit and emergency contacts are kept.
Prepare Before an Emergency Happens
Preparation starts with training. Enroll parents, grandparents, babysitters, and regular caregivers in an accredited infant CPR and first aid course.
Save emergency and poison control numbers in every caregiver’s phone. Post the home address near the kit and share allergy and medicine details.
Lock medicines and cleaners away, secure button batteries, test alarms, and keep small objects off low surfaces. Alppi’s baby milestones by month guide can help caregivers anticipate new hazards as mobility changes.
Review how to hold a newborn with new caregivers. For a practical home and diaper-bag list, use the newborn essentials checklist.
Helpful Baby Care Essentials
Everyday care products do not replace a first aid kit, CPR training, or medical care. Keeping diapers and dry wipes nearby can still make it easier to maintain hygiene, change a soiled diaper, and track urine output when a baby is unwell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Basic First Aid Steps for a Baby?
First, make sure the scene is safe. Check whether the baby responds by calling their name and tapping the bottom of the foot. Look for normal breathing and severe bleeding for no more than 10 seconds. Call your local emergency number if the baby is unresponsive, not fully awake, not breathing normally, only gasping, or bleeding heavily. Put the phone on speaker, follow the dispatcher, and give care within your training. Keep watching breathing, color, and responsiveness until help arrives.
How Do I Perform CPR on a Baby?
Place an unresponsive baby who is not breathing normally on a firm, flat surface. Call emergency services and begin 30 chest compressions at 100 to 120 per minute, pressing about one-third of the chest depth, or 1.5 inches. Give 2 gentle breaths that make the chest rise, then repeat 30 compressions and 2 breaths. Use an AED as soon as available and follow its prompts. A hands-on infant CPR class is the safest way to learn correct hand position and pressure.
What Should I Do if My Baby Is Choking?
If your baby cannot cry, cough, or breathe effectively, support the head and place the baby face down with the head lower than the chest. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades. Turn the baby face up and give 5 chest thrusts with two fingers just below the nipple line. Repeat until the object clears or the baby becomes unresponsive. Never use abdominal thrusts on a baby or sweep blindly inside the mouth. If the baby becomes unresponsive, call emergency services and start CPR.
What Should Be in a Baby First Aid Kit?
Include emergency contacts, the baby’s medical and allergy details, a digital thermometer, sterile gauze, nonstick pads, bandages, disposable gloves, saline, tweezers, small scissors, a medicine syringe, and a wrapped instant cold pack. Add prescribed emergency medicine and its action plan when applicable. Store supplies where adults can reach them but children cannot. Check the kit every three months and replace expired, opened, damaged, or used items. Training matters as much as supplies, so keep infant CPR and first aid certification current.
Which Alppi Baby Essentials Are Useful Near a First Aid Kit?
Alppi diapers and Wispy Duo dry wipes can support routine hygiene and make urine output easier to monitor when a baby is unwell, but they are not medical supplies. Keep them beside, not inside, a clearly labeled first aid kit. A stocked changing area or diaper bag may include clean diapers, dry wipes, spare clothing, and disposal bags alongside a separate kit containing gauze, gloves, a thermometer, and emergency contacts. First aid products, medicines, and prescribed devices should remain labeled, age-appropriate, and out of children’s reach.
Keep Reading
Medical note: This article provides general education and does not replace an accredited first aid course, emergency dispatcher instructions, or advice from your baby’s healthcare professional. Emergency numbers and protocols vary by country.
