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Don’t panic! The calmer you stay, the faster you can help your baby or toddler should they happen to be choking on food. Then, follow the steps below to help dislodge the food in your child’s airway. You’ve got this!

What happens when someone chokes?
An object, like a piece of food, blocks the airway, making it difficult to breathe.

How to help a choking baby (under 12 months old)
Follow the steps below. Remember, stay calm. Call an ambulance and do not leave your baby.

1. Check if your baby is actually choking. Your baby will be unable to make any noise, cry, cough or breathe if their airway is obstructed. Your baby is likely not choking if they’re able to make noises, cough, gag and take breaths.
2. If your baby is indeed choking, call your local emergency service. Call 1011 for an ambulance or, if you’re a Bestmed member, call Netcare 911 on 082 911. If possible, ask someone else to call, while you take care of your child. Remember to give your name, address and contact details, and explain clearly what is happening, so that the operator can give you advice. Stay on the call until the ambulance arrives.
3. Place your baby face down on your forearm, supporting their head and neck with your hand. You can rest your forearm on your thigh for support. Deliver five quick and strong blows with the heel of your free hand between your baby’s shoulder blades. Check between each blow to see if the blockage has come out. 
   The blows create vibrations and pressure in the airway that should force the blockage (it can be food or toys or other foreign object) out.
4. If the blockage has not come out, turn your baby onto their back and rest them on your thigh with their head away from you. Keep their head lower than their chest. With your index and middle finger, press down five times on your baby’s breastbone (between and slightly below the nipples). Use enough pressure so that your baby’s chest presses down about one-third and rises between each compression. This should help to push air from the lungs into the airway to force the obstruction out.
5. Check to see if the obstruction has dislodged. If it’s still stuck, repeat steps 3 and 4. 
6. Remember to let the emergency operator know if your baby loses consciousness at any time. 

How to help a choking toddler (12 to 36 months old)
Follow the steps below for back blows and/or abdominal thrusts for toddlers between 12 and 36 months old. Again, remember to stay calm. Check if your child is indeed choking (unable to breathe, cough or make any noise), call an ambulance and stay with your child at all times.

Back blows

1. Lay your toddler face down on your lap with their head away from you. If you’re unable to sit, support your child in a forward-leaning position over your arm.
2. Give five blocks with the heel of your free hand between their shoulder blades. Check to see if the obstruction is dislodged.

Abdominal thrusts

1. If back blows don’t help to dislodge the blockage from your child’s airway, kneel or stand behind your child, placing your arms under your child’s arms and around their upper body.
2. Clench your fist and place it between the belly button (naval) and the ribs.
3. Grasp your fist with your other hand and push sharply inwards and upwards. Don’t apply pressure to the lower rib cage in case of damage.
4. Repeat up to five times, checking between each thrust to see if the object is dislodged.

What NOT to do when your baby or toddler is choking

• Do not reach into your child’s mouth to dislodge an obstruction unless you can get a firm grasp of it with your fingers. This is because you could push the obstruction further into the air, making the situation worse.
• Do not attempt abdominal thrusts to your child under 12 months old, as this could damage your baby’s developing lungs.
• Do not hold your child upside down by the feet. You may force the obstruction deeper into their throat, or drop your child by accident.

How to prevent choking
Make sure that your home is as safe as possible to prevent your child from choking. Here are a few tips:

• Keep an eye on your child while they are eating.
• Make sure that your child’s food is age appropriate and make sure that they are sitting while they eat. 
• Check with your paediatrician which foods are safe for your child.
• Do not leave small objects within in reach of your child, or buy toys with small parts.

References:
Marcin, A. 2020. How to help a choking baby. In: Healthline. (Ed. C. Stephens, R.N. CCRN, CPN). Available [Online]: https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/baby-choking.

Mayo Clinic. 2025. Choking: First aid. Available [Online]: https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637. 

NHS. 2024. How to stop a child from choking. Available [Online]: https://www.nhs.uk/baby/first-aid-and-safety/first-aid/how-to-stop-a-child-from-choking/.