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CPR Steps for Infants

Every parent and caregiver should be prepared to perform emergency first aid for a child in case the need arises. One of the most important first aid skills to learn when you are caring for an infant is infant CPR. This procedure is simple and can mean the difference between life and death.

  1. Assess the Infant's Condition

    • Before performing CPR, check to see if the baby is conscious. This can be done by shouting or jiggling (not shaking) the baby to see if she reacts. If the baby is unresponsive, check to see if she is breathing. Lay the infant flat on her back and tilt her head back slightly. Put your cheek by her mouth to feel for breath. You can also look at her chest to see if it is rising and falling, which would indicate breathing.

    Breaths and Chest Compressions

    • Once you have determined that the infant is not breathing, you can begin administering breaths and chest compressions. With her head tilted back to open her airway, place your mouth over the baby's mouth and nose. Gently breathe into her lungs long enough to see her chest rise. Remove your mouth briefly to allow the air to come out, and then repeat one breath. If her chest does not rise when you breathe into it, there is probably something blocking the airway that needs to be removed.

      After administering two breaths, begin chest compressions. This is done by placing two fingers (the pointer and the middle finger) in the middle of the chest, just below where an imaginary line would connect the baby's nipples. Firmly, but gently, push down hard enough to compress the chest 1/2 to 1 inch. Do this 30 times at a rate of 100 per minute. Then proceed to give two more breaths.

    Call 911

    • You should continue to perform the two-breath, 30-compression cycle for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, stop and call 911 if someone has not already done so.

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