Choking Hazards for Babies: What Every Parent Should Know

Babies and young children like to put things in their mouths. It’s one way they explore and learn about the world around them.

Their airways, however, are small and easily blocked. Their reflexes aren’t as well developed as an adult’s, and their bodies aren’t as strong. The risk of choking is, unfortunately, fairly high.

By understanding the dangers and taking an infant CPR course, parents may help prevent choking and keep their children safe.

The dedicated team at Emergcare is on a mission to provide essential first aid education for every family. With backgrounds in health, we believe that CPR and first aid are lifesaving skills that should be accessible for all. Contact us for more information on our courses.

Common Choking Hazards for Babies and Children

Choking occurs when the airway becomes blocked. Anything smaller than a 20-cent coin can cause a blockage and is, therefore, a choking risk for babies and young children.

Preventing Choking: Safe Feeding Tips

These tips may help protect your baby or young child from choking while eating.

• Always supervise your child so that you can respond quickly if choking occurs.
• Always supervise older children who may not understand that they shouldn’t give food to younger children.
• Ensure that children are sitting down (they’re more likely to choke if they eat while lying down, running around, or playing).
• Avoid giving babies bottles in bed (they can fall asleep while drinking, drawing liquid into their lungs and choking).
• Until they can chew well, give babies food in pea-sized pieces or smaller.
• Cut cylindrical-shaped foods (like sausages and grapes) into halves and then quarters.
• Remove pips and seeds.
• Do not give children under the age of 5 whole nuts (smooth nut butters are okay, provided they aren’t allergic).
• Remove bones from meat and fish (where possible, use minced meat instead).
• Cook, grate, or mash hard foods (particularly harder fruits and vegetables, like apples and carrots).
• Don’t feed babies and children while they’re crying.
• Encourage children to chew food well, take their time during meals, and swallow before talking or laughing.

Preventing Choking: Safety Around the Home

These tips may help protect your baby or young child from choking while exploring around the home.

• Do your best to keep small objects out of reach. Regularly check the floor and under furniture for small objects.
• Always follow the age recommendations on toys. Avoid toys with small or breakable parts and check toys regularly for loose screws and buttons.
• Avoid toys with button batteries. Check all battery compartments on items around the home to ensure that they’re secured.
• Keep toys for older siblings (such as Lego, beads, and doll accessories) in separate boxes. Encourage them to pack up when they’re finished and keep the boxes out of reach.
• Educate older siblings about the dangers small toys can pose and teach them the importance of keeping them out of reach.

What to do if Your Baby or Young Child is Choking

It’s highly recommended that anyone who cares for children should do a first aid and paediatric CPR course in case of an emergency.

Child is Choking But Still Breathing

In many cases, coughing may actually help to dislodge the blockage.

• Encourage the child to cough (babies and young children may do this instinctively).
• Remain calm and do your best to reassure the child.
• Continue to monitor their breathing as they recover.

Child is Choking and Not Breathing

If coughing doesn’t dislodge the blockage or if the child stops breathing at any time, call an ambulance by dialling 000. In the meantime, you can follow these steps:

Babies under one should be placed face down, across your knees, and held so that their head is lower than their chest. Older children can remain sitting and lean forward, or lie on the ground in the recovery position (on their side).

1. Administer five sharp blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand. In between each blow, check to see if the blockage has been dislodged and if the child is breathing.
2. If the back blows are unsuccessful, turn the baby or child onto their back.
3. Administer five chest thrusts to the lower half of the sternum, where you would perform CPR, and keep your hand in contact with the chest at all times. Use two fingers for a baby or the heel of your hand for a child.
4. In between each chest thrust, check to see if the blockage has been dislodged.
5. If the blockage hasn’t cleared, continue alternating between five back blows and five chest thrusts until the ambulance arrives.

Never use the Heimlich maneouvre, as this can cause serious damage to the baby or child’s internal organs.

Baby Choking First Aid: Be Prepared in an Emergency

Choking is every parent’s worst nightmare, which is why it’s important to be prepared. Even if you’re able to administer first aid, if your child is choking or having trouble breathing, call an ambulance immediately.

Emergcare offers a comprehensive infant CPR and first aid course that is designed to provide parents, grandparents, and other carers with the vital first aid skills focused on babies and young children. Contact us to learn more about our courses or to book a session.

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