Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on infant is an essential emergency procedure that can save a child’s life when their breathing or heartbeat has stopped due to drowning, suffocation, choking, injury, or other emergencies. This procedure combines:
- Rescue breathing, which supplies oxygen to the lungs.
- Chest compressions, which help circulate oxygen-rich blood to the brain and vital organs.
Without oxygen, permanent brain damage can begin in just four minutes, and death may occur within a few more minutes. That’s why immediate action is crucial until professional medical help arrives.
Who should learn it?
CPR is most effective when performed by individuals trained in an accredited course. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and anyone who supervises children should consider learning CPR. Resources such as the American Heart Association offer classes to help individuals become certified in this life-saving skill.
Common causes of breathing or heartbeat cessation in infants and children
- Drowning
- Suffocation
- Choking
- Serious injuries, including head trauma
- Poisoning
- Lung disease
- Electrical shock
- Severe bleeding
What are the signs of an emergency?
- Unconsciousness
- Absence of breathing
- No pulse or signs of circulation (no normal breathing, movement, or coughing)
Steps for performing infant and child CPR
1. Assess the situation
- Ensure the scene is safe.
- Obtain consent from a parent or guardian if available.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE) if available.
2. Check for responsiveness
- For infants (under 1 year old): Tap the bottom of the baby’s foot and shout their name.
- For children (over 1 year old): Tap their shoulder while calling their name.
- If there’s no response, check for breathing by looking, listening, and feeling for breath.
- Spend no more than 10 seconds checking.
3. Call for Help
- If the child or infant is unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping, call 911 immediately.
- If alone, perform CPR for two minutes before calling 911 unless you suspect a spinal injury, in which case carry the infant with you if necessary.
4. Position the child
- Place them on a firm, flat surface on their back.
- If spinal injury is suspected, avoid twisting the neck.
5. Open the airway
- For a child, tilt the head slightly past neutral using the head-tilt/chin-lift method.
- For an infant, use a neutral head position with a slight chin lift.
6. Provide rescue breaths
- For infants
Cover the baby’s nose and mouth with your mouth and give two small breaths (each lasting about 1 second), watching for chest rise.
- For children
Pinch the nose shut, cover the mouth, and give two slow breaths, ensuring visible chest movement.
- If the chest doesn’t lift, adjust the head’s position and attempt another breath. If breathing remains absent, check for an obstruction and remove it if visible.
7. Begin chest compressions
- Infants:
Use two fingers (or two thumbs with hands encircling the chest) just below the nipple line.
- Children:
Use one or two hands, depending on size, and press down on the breastbone.
- Compression Depth:
- Infants: About 1.5 inches (4 cm)
- Children: About 2 inches (5 cm)
- Compression Rate: 100 to 120 per minute
- Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions.
8. Perform CPR cycles
- 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths
- Continue CPR until:
- The child starts breathing
- An AED (automated external defibrillator) is available
- Another trained responder takes over
- EMS personnel arrive
- You are too exhausted to continue
- The scene becomes unsafe
What do you need to remember at all times
What NOT to do
- Do not tilt the head back if a spinal injury is suspected. Instead, use a jaw-thrust maneuver.
- Do not check for a pulse unless you are a trained healthcare provider. Instead, assess circulation by checking for breathing and movement.
- Do not give forceful breaths. Infant lungs are delicate, and too much air can cause harm.
When to stop CPR and call for help
- If you have performed five cycles (about two minutes) of CPR and no one else is present to help, call 911.
- If someone else is available, instruct them to call for emergency services immediately while you continue CPR.
How to prevent acute situations?
Many childhood emergencies that lead to CPR are preventable. Here are some key safety measures:
- Supervision: Never leave an infant or small child unattended near water, on high surfaces, or in unsafe environments.
- Safe Sleeping: Ensure infants sleep on their backs, without pillows, blankets, or toys that could cause suffocation.
- Choking Prevention: Avoid giving small objects, coins, popcorn, grapes, or nuts to infants. Always monitor mealtime.
- Home Safety: Secure electrical outlets, keep hazardous materials locked away, and use safety gates.
- Car Safety: Always use appropriate car seats and never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
Be prepared: learn CPR
The best way to be ready for an emergency is to take a CPR class. Organizations like the American Heart Association and the Red Cross offer training both in-person and online. Having this knowledge can make the difference between life and death in a critical situation.
By staying informed and prepared, you can protect the most vulnerable members of your family and community. CPR is a skill that every parent and caregiver should have—it could save a life when every second counts.
Organizations Offering CPR Education
- American Heart Association (AHA)
- American Red Cross
- National Safety Council (NSC)
- St. John Ambulance
- British Heart Foundation (BHF)
- European Resuscitation Council (ERC)
- Australian Red Cross
- Canadian Red Cross
These organizations provide accredited CPR training for infants, children, and adults both in-person and online.
Sources:
- American Heart Association. (2025) Infant & child CPR steps. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/cpr/infant-and-child-cpr .
- American Red Cross. (2025) Infant CPR steps. Available at: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/infant-cpr .
- Mayo Clinic. (2024) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): First aid. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-cpr/basics/art-20056600 .
- KidsHealth. (2024) CPR: A step-by-step guide for infants and children. Available at: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cpr.html .
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023) Drowning prevention and response. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/index.html .
- National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2023) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for children and infants. Available at: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000013.htm .