How to Use the Recovery Position With an Infant

The recovery position is a technique used during CPR to prevent unconscious, breathing victims from choking. The recovery position used with infants under 1-year old is different from that used with older children and adults.

Instructions

• 1

  Check the infant's airway to be sure it is unobstructed. If the airway is obstructed, clear the obstruction. If the airway is unobstructed, ever-so-slightly tilt the infant's head back to create an open airway.

• 2

  Check for signs of breathing by watching. See if the chest is rising and falling. Sometimes the chest does not appear to be moving, but the infant may still be breathing. Listen at the infant's nose and mouth for breathing sounds. If the infant is not breathing, perform infant CPR using the appropriate techniques. If the infant is breathing independently, go to Step 3.

• 3

  Hold the infant in your arms with your forearms supporting the infant's belly and chest. Support the infant's head and neck.

• 4

  Tilt the infant so that her head is slightly lower than the rest of her body. Make sure you do not block the infant's mouth and nose.

• 5

  Continue to monitor the infant's condition while she is in the recovery position until help arrives. Pay attention for signs of breathing. If at any time the infant ceases breathing, begin performing infant CPR immediately.