Baby CPR

What to do if your baby isn’t breathing

If your baby stops breathing for any reason, you will need to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to get his heart beating again. Here’s how…

Step 1 Lay your baby on his back and open up his airway. Do this by placing two fingers of one hand on his forehead and two fingers of the other hand under his chin and tilting his chin up slightly. His airway is very small so you don’t need to tilt his head back too far.

Step 2 Check for signs that your baby is breathing by placing your cheek next to his mouth so you can feel air puff out.

Step 3 If your baby isn’t breathing, you need to give him two rescue breaths. Do this by placing your mouth over his mouth and nose and breathing in gently. Your baby’s lungs are very small, so don’t blow too hard or for too long or you could damage them – just one second is enough.

Step 4 You need to stimulate his heart by giving him chest compressions. Place the pads of two fingers just below an imaginary line running between his nipples. Press down smoothly to a depth of one inch 30 times.

Step 5 When you’ve given your baby 30 chest compressions, give him two rescue breaths, continuing to alternate between the two for two minutes.

Step 6 If your baby hasn’t started breathing again, call 911.

Step 7 Continue with the rescue breaths and chest compressions until your baby starts breathing or the ambulance arrives.

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