Baby not breathing: CPR

Call 911

If a baby doesn't respond and isn't breathing normally (or is only gasping), start CPR right away. Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

What to do (under 1 year)

1. Make sure the area is safe. Tap the bottom of the foot and speak loudly.
2. If there's no response, shout for help and call 911 on speaker. If you're alone with no phone, give 2 minutes of CPR, then go call.
3. Lay the baby on their back on something firm and flat. Check for breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
4. Compressions: in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line. Use both thumbs with your hands wrapped around the chest, or the heel of one hand. Push down about 1.5 inches (4 cm), one third of the chest.
5. Give 30 fast compressions, 100 to 120 per minute. Let the chest come all the way back up after each one.
6. 2 breaths: keep the head level, tilted back slightly. Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth and blow gently for 1 second, until you see the chest rise.
7. Keep repeating 30 compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives, the baby breathes, or an AED (defibrillator) arrives.
8. If an AED arrives, turn it on and follow its instructions. Use child pads if available; if not, use adult pads (one on the chest and one on the back).

What not to do

• Don't stop CPR to check over and over: stop only if the baby moves, cries or breathes normally.
• Don't shake the baby to wake them.
• Don't blow too hard: just enough to make the chest rise.
• If you can't give breaths, don't stop: keep doing compressions.