Your baby’s first year can feel like a whirlwind—feeds, naps, vaccinations, growth spurts… and the occasional scary moment that comes out of nowhere. A sudden choking sound, a fall from the bed, a hot chai spill, a fever that rises fast, or a baby who turns unusually floppy can make time feel like it has stopped. Infant first aid is not about becoming a doctor at home. It is about a short, clear sequence that protects breathing and circulation until professional help takes over.
You may be thinking, “What counts as an emergency? Should I call the paediatrician, go to the hospital, or ring an ambulance?” The body usually gives signals. When breathing, colour, responsiveness, or heavy bleeding look wrong, Infant first aid means acting early, not waiting to feel certain.
Infant first aid: why it matters so much in the first year
Babies can deteriorate quickly, and it is physiology—not parental delay.
- Small airways: a little mucus, regurgitated milk, or a tiny object can obstruct airflow. Signs of struggle include chest indrawing (retractions), nasal flaring, grunting, or a harsh sound called stridor.
- Limited oxygen reserve: infants tire faster when breathing is hard work.
- Immature temperature control: after a bath, during travel in rain, or with wet clothes, babies can lose heat quickly, hypothermia stresses the body.
- Developing immunity: in young infants, fever can sometimes be the first sign of an infection that needs prompt assessment.
That is why Infant first aid focuses on the first 60–120 seconds: protect, call, help.
Infant first aid readiness at home and on the go
A simple family action plan
A plan prevents confusion when adrenaline is high.
- One adult stays with the baby and starts first aid.
- One adult calls emergency services, opens the door, brings the kit (and an AED if available in your building or society).
- If alone: call on speakerphone and follow dispatcher instructions while you act.
Keep a quick note (phone or paper): baby’s full name, date of birth, allergies, medical conditions, ongoing medicines, and your paediatrician’s contact.
Emergency numbers in India to save
Save these in every caregiver’s phone:
- Ambulance: 108 (many states)
- Emergency helpline: 112 (works in most regions)
Also save your paediatrician and nearest hospital number. For suspected poisoning, if your baby has symptoms or you are unsure, emergency services are the right first call.
Baby first aid kit checklist (infant-safe)
A practical home kit for Infant first aid:
- Digital thermometer
- Gloves
- Sterile gauze pads, non-stick dressings, hypoallergenic tape
- Saline drops and a nasal suction bulb
- Blunt-tip scissors
- Clean cloths and a cold pack
- Emergency contact card + baby medical info card
Medicine notes:
- Store medicines locked, away from visitors’ bags.
- Dose by weight only, using a dosing syringe (not a kitchen spoon).
Diaper bag mini-kit:
- Gauze + tape
- Fragrance-free antiseptic wipes
- Saline drops + small suction bulb
- Emergency info card
How Infant first aid differs from adult first aid
- Newborn: birth to 28 days
- Infant: 1 month to 12 months
- Child: 1 year to puberty
Techniques differ because babies have a relatively larger tongue, a narrower airway, faster baseline breathing/heart rate, and a softer chest wall.
Recognising an emergency: when to call an ambulance
Call emergency services immediately if your baby:
- Is unresponsive, breathing abnormally, or turns blue/pale/grey
- Becomes very floppy or unusually difficult to wake
- Has severe breathing difficulty (retractions, grunting, stridor at rest)
- Is choking and cannot cough/cry/breathe effectively
- Has a seizure (especially more than 5 minutes, repeated, or breathing trouble after)
- Has heavy bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure
- Shows signs of anaphylaxis (swelling plus breathing trouble, collapse, widespread hives with vomiting)
- Has a near-drowning or submersion event, even if they seem fine afterwards
- Has suspected poisoning (medicine, chemical, plant), especially with symptoms
- Has a significant burn (large, blistering, white or charred, or on face/hands/feet/genitals)
- Has a significant head injury (loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, seizure, worsening drowsiness)
- Has a temperature ≥ 38.0°C (100.4°F) under 3 months (especially under 28 days)
If you are hesitating because you are “not sure,” that hesitation itself is a reason to call. Infant first aid includes asking for help early.
When a same-day paediatrician call may be enough
If your baby is alert, feeding reasonably, and breathing comfortably, your paediatrician can advise for:
- Fever in an older infant without red flags
- Mild vomiting/diarrhoea with adequate drinking
- Minor cuts/scrapes or small bumps with normal behaviour
- Mild rash without a non-blanching rash or systemic illness
- Frequent spit-up/reflux that seems typical (seek review if poor weight gain, pain, large-volume vomiting, or breathing discomfort)
What to share on the phone
- What you see now: breathing effort, colour, responsiveness, muscle tone
- When it started and how it changed
- Triggers/exposures: food, medicine, fall, water, chemicals
- Wet diapers, feeds, vomiting/diarrhoea frequency
- Any medicine given (name, dose, time)
- Baby’s age in months (and weight if known)
Infant first aid assessment sequence: DRSABCD (baby version)
- Danger: check for hot liquids, water, electric cords.
- Response: tap the foot and speak loudly.
- Send for help: call 108/112, keep speaker on.
- Airway: neutral head position (no over-tilting).
- Breathing: look, listen, feel up to 10 seconds.
- CPR: start if not breathing normally.
- Defibrillation: use an AED as soon as available.
Infant CPR (under 1 year): what to do
If your baby is not breathing normally, start Infant first aid CPR.
- Place baby on a firm flat surface.
- Open airway gently with chin lift, keep head neutral.
- Check breathing up to 10 seconds.
Chest compressions
- Two fingers in the centre of the chest, just below the nipple line.
- Depth: about one-third of the chest (around 4 cm).
- Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute.
- Allow full recoil.
Rescue breaths
- Cover baby’s mouth and nose with your mouth.
- Give 2 gentle breaths (about 1 second each).
- Look for chest rise, if none, reposition to neutral and try again.
Ratios:
- One rescuer: 30 compressions + 2 breaths
- Two rescuers: 15 compressions + 2 breaths
Choking relief for infants
If baby can cough loudly or cry, let them cough and watch closely. If coughing is silent/ineffective or colour changes, act.
For a conscious choking infant:
- Support head and neck, keep head lower than chest.
- Give 5 back blows between shoulder blades.
- Turn baby over, give 5 chest thrusts (two fingers, CPR spot), one-third chest depth.
Repeat until the object clears or baby becomes unresponsive.
If unresponsive: start CPR. After compressions, remove an object only if you can clearly see it. No blind finger sweeps.
Drowning and near-drowning
Risks can include buckets, tubs, and water tanks.
- Remove baby from water.
- Check breathing and responsiveness.
- Call emergency services.
- Start CPR if breathing is absent or abnormal.
After any submersion event, medical assessment is often needed. Seek urgent care if cough persists, breathing becomes fast/laboured, unusual sleepiness appears, vomiting happens, or feeding drops over 24–48 hours.
Recovery position: airway protection
Use when baby is breathing but not responding normally (for example after a seizure or after choking that has resolved).
- Place baby on the side.
- Keep head/neck aligned, face visible.
- Monitor breathing and keep warm while waiting for help.
Using an AED on an infant
If baby is unresponsive and not breathing normally, use an AED as soon as available while continuing CPR.
- Use paediatric pads if available.
- If pads may touch: one pad on the chest, the other on the back between shoulder blades.
Breathing trouble in babies
Seek urgent help for retractions, grunting, nasal flaring, stridor at rest, blue lips/face, pauses in breathing, poor feeding, dehydration signs, or extreme sleepiness.
Supportive first steps:
- Keep baby upright and calm.
- Saline drops plus gentle suction for blocked nose.
- Small frequent feeds.
- Avoid smoke and strong fragrances (including agarbatti).
Bleeding and burns: quick basics
Bleeding
- Firm direct pressure with gauze for several minutes (avoid checking repeatedly).
- If it soaks through, add layers and keep pressing.
Burns and scalds
- Cool under running water for 10–20 minutes.
- Avoid ice and home remedies (ghee/butter, oils, toothpaste).
Seek urgent assessment for burns that blister, look white/charred, involve face/hands/feet/genitals, or are larger than baby’s palm.
Fever, seizures, dehydration: key thresholds
- Under 3 months: fever ≥ 38.0°C needs urgent medical evaluation.
- Older infants: seek advice if baby looks unwell, fever persists, or ≥ 39.0°C.
During a seizure: side position, do not restrain, nothing in the mouth, time it. Call emergency services if it lasts more than 5 minutes or breathing/colour is abnormal afterwards.
Dehydration red flags: fewer wet diapers, dry mouth, no tears, sunken eyes/fontanelle, unusual sleepiness. Offer small frequent feeds, ORS may help for significant diarrhoea/vomiting.
Poisoning and chemical exposure
If poisoning is suspected, call emergency services or your nearest hospital right away. Do not induce vomiting. Keep the packaging.
For chemicals:
- Skin: rinse with running water at least 15 minutes.
- Eyes: continuous rinsing 15–20 minutes, then urgent assessment.
Practice and prevention
Regular practice makes Infant first aid feel more doable.
- Learn CPR and choking skills hands-on and refresh.
- Prevent choking: cut grapes/tomatoes lengthwise, avoid nuts/popcorn/hard sweets.
- Safe sleep: back to sleep, firm mattress, empty crib.
- Water safety: arm’s reach in the bath, empty buckets.
- Medicine safety: locked storage, dosing syringe.
Myths to avoid
- Choking: no blind finger sweeps, no water to “wash it down.”
- Burns: no ice, no home remedies, no popping blisters.
- Fever: avoid alcohol rubs and over-bundling.
- Seizures: do not restrain, do not put anything in the mouth.
Aftercare and monitoring
Seek re-evaluation if breathing worsens, feeding drops, wet diapers reduce, fever persists, or behaviour becomes unusually sleepy or very irritable. A small log of symptoms and medicine timings makes medical conversations faster.
Key takeaways
- Infant first aid starts with breathing, colour, responsiveness, and major bleeding.
- Call 108/112 early when signs look serious or baby is very young.
- Time-sensitive skills: choking relief (5 back blows/5 chest thrusts), infant CPR, recovery position, AED basics.
- Fever ≥ 38.0°C under 3 months needs urgent medical evaluation.
- For vomiting/diarrhoea, focus on hydration and watch wet diapers and alertness.
- For support between visits, you can download the Heloa app for personalised guidance and free child health questionnaires.
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