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Occasionally, we come across videos circulating around social media which shows mothers in despair as their baby chokes.

It’s a scary situation to face in any case and if you have a baby, it’s good to know about the first-aid basics including how to help if they are choking. Knowing what to do in the case of a choking baby can help dislodge what’s causing the obstruction and ultimately save the baby’s life!

How can a baby choke?

A baby may choke if their airway is partially or completely blocked. This happens as babies have smaller airways that are prone to becoming easily obstructed.

It is very crucial to act fast as the obstruction of the airways cuts off the oxygen that reaches the brain which could result in brain damage or death in a few minutes.

Some infants with certain conditions like developmental delays, neuromuscular disorders and swallowing disorders may be more at risk of choking than others.

Signs to look out for

inability to breathe properly- their ribs and chest may be pulled inwards
inability to make much noise
very weak coughing
distress
high-pitched sounds as the baby inhales
skin starting to turn blue
loss of consciousness

What to do if your baby (less than 1-year-old) is choking?

The main thing to take note of is to act fast and call emergency (999 in Malaysia) or have someone call them immediately.

If the baby is able to breathe, cry and cough a lot, do not resort to carrying out first aid as strong coughs and cries can aid in clearing their throat to clear out the obstruction.

However, if you notice that your baby is facing difficulties in breathing and is unable to make noise, then proceed with the steps below right away!

Here are the steps you can follow:

Sit yourself down and lay your baby stomach-down on your forearm, along your thigh. Make sure his/her head is slightly lower than the rest of the body. Use one hand to support the baby’s head and neck.
With the heel of your other hand, give your child 5 quick, forceful blows to the area in between their shoulder blades. Make sure to press hard each time so that the pressure and vibrations created could help force the object out of the airways and allow them to breathe again.
Turn your baby around so that he/she is laying on their back on your thigh. Make sure the baby’s head is slightly lower than the rest of his/her body. Use your index and middle finger to press down on the area between and slightly below the nipples (the breastbone). Press down 5 times with force.
Check their mouth to see if the objected is dislodged. If not, keep carrying out the steps. Note: Do not put your hand in the baby’s mouth to pick out the object as it could cause the object causing the obstruction to get pushed even further down the baby’s throat. However, if it can easily be seen and picked out, you can safely do so.
Repeat this procedure until help arrives
If the baby starts to become unresponsive and stop breathing, you should be prepared to carry out baby CPR. This can ensure the circulation of blood and oxygen in their body, especially to their brain.

What can cause your baby to choke?

The most common and obvious cause of choking in babies is food.

There’s a risk of choking when they have food and it’s important to keep an eye on them during their mealtimes. Some food that’s not recommended for a young baby or child to have are:

grapes
raw fruits and vegetables
peanut butter (because of stickiness and thickness)
popcorn
hot dogs
hard candies

Choking hazards like tiny objects laying around at home

Children often put objects in their mouth, especially those aged 1-5 years, as a means of exploring what it is. It’s important to ensure they are out of your child’s reach to avoid an undesirable emergency from taking place. Some examples of such hazards are:

coins
marbles
buttons
batteries
beads

Babies are even prone to choking on liquid-like breast milk, formula or their own spit and mucus. Pay attention to your baby during feeding time.

Tips you can take to prevent choking in children

Introduce food in an age-appropriate manner. Make sure that your child has sufficient motor skills to allow swallowing of food to prevent choking. It is recommended to wait until the baby is at least 4 months old before introducing pureed solids.
Closely watch your child when they’re having food. Keep an eye out on your baby during feeding time, to be on the lookout for any peculiar signs. Encourage your kids to be seated when they eat, instead of walking or running around.
Make sure small objects are not laying around. Store items like coins, safety pins, paper clips, or toys with tiny parts in places out of reach for a child. To make sure objects as such are not accessible to your baby or child, lower down to their level and observe your surroundings to see if you can spot anything that should rather be put away.

Note: do not do the Heimlich manoeuvre (abdominal thrusts) on your baby in any case. This is not suitable to be used on an infant as their organs are in the development stage and are fragile. Squeezing their tummies may cause damage to their internal organs.

Being aware of first-aid procedures is very important so that you will be more ready to deal with any emergencies that may pop up. Yes, it’s very scary to think of these scenarios happening to you but knowing how to deal with one can really help. So, keep yourself well informed at all times! It can potentially save lives! Even after the baby recovers from a choking episode, be sure to bring him/her to a doctor!