A baby is choking or not responding — what do I do?
Under one year old: alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts; if the baby stops responding, call 995 and start infant CPR with two or three fingers, 3–4 cm deep. It is different from adult first aid.
These are the Singapore Heart Foundation's steps for babies under one year old — they differ from those for adults and older children.
Choking but conscious: give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades, then put 2 fingers on the centre of the breastbone just below the nipple line and give 5 chest thrusts. Keep alternating. If you can see the object, hook it out with your little finger — do not poke blindly.
Not responding: call 995 for an ambulance and ask someone to get an AED. Using your middle and ring fingers on the centre of the breastbone (on the nipple line), compress 100–120 times a minute, 3–4 cm deep; after 30 compressions give 2 short, gentle breaths of 1 second each.
Children over one year old need a different technique (usually abdominal thrusts for choking), which you should practise in a class. The Singapore Red Cross Basic Child and Infant First Aid Workshop (BCIFA) covers choking and CPR for children and infants. It is for parents, domestic helpers and nannies — one day, 7 hours, $163.50.
This is a reminder of the key points, not a substitute for a proper course — the force and hand position need hands-on practice.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 29 Sep 2026