Infant (0-12 mo)

Take a breath. You're here.

That's the first right thing.

What's happening with the baby?

Get help now

🚨

Call 911

Life-threatening emergency

☎️

Poison Control

1-800-222-1222 (24/7, free)

Baby not breathing

🚨

Call 911 immediately. Put on speaker and follow these steps.

1

Check responsiveness

Tap foot, call name. DO NOT shake baby.

2

Place baby on firm, flat surface

Floor or table. Face up.

3

Open airway

Tilt head back slightly (neutral position). Lift chin.

4

Give 2 rescue breaths

Cover baby's mouth AND nose with your mouth. Gentle puffs — just enough to see chest rise.

5

Start chest compressions if no response

2 fingers on breastbone, just below nipple line. Push down 1.5 inches, 30 times fast.

6

Repeat: 30 compressions, 2 breaths

Continue until baby responds or help arrives.

Infant choking

🚨

If baby CAN cry or cough → let them. Don't intervene.
If baby CANNOT cry, cough, or breathe → act now:

1

Hold baby face-down on forearm

Support head and neck. Head lower than body. Rest arm on thigh.

2

Give 5 back blows

Heel of hand between shoulder blades. Firm but not too hard.

3

Flip baby face-up

Support head. Keep head lower than body.

4

Give 5 chest thrusts

2 fingers on breastbone, just below nipple line. Push down 1.5 inches.

5

Repeat until object comes out

5 back blows, 5 chest thrusts. Call 911 if not resolved quickly.

✓ Do

Support baby's head at all times
Keep head lower than body
Check mouth between cycles

✕ Don't

Don't do abdominal thrusts on infants
Don't do blind finger sweeps
Don't slap the back if baby is upright

Infant fever

🚨

Call 911 or go to ER immediately if:
Baby under 3 months with ANY fever (100.4°F / 38°C or higher)

How old is the baby?

Fever under 3 months

🚨

This is a medical emergency. Go to ER immediately.

1

Take rectal temperature

Most accurate for infants. 100.4°F (38°C) or higher = fever.

2

Go to emergency room

Do not wait for pediatrician appointment.

3

Do NOT give fever reducer

Doctor needs accurate reading. Don't mask symptoms.

Why so urgent?

Newborns can't fight infection like older babies. Fever may indicate serious bacterial infection requiring immediate treatment.

Fever 3-12 months

⚠️

Call doctor or go to ER if: Fever over 102°F (38.9°C), lasts more than 24 hours, or baby is very irritable/lethargic

1

Take accurate temperature

Rectal is most accurate. Under 100.4°F may not need treatment.

2

Keep baby hydrated

Extra breastfeeding/formula. Small frequent feeds.

3

Dress lightly

Don't bundle up. One layer is enough.

4

Fever reducer if over 6 months

Infant acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen. Follow dosing on package by weight.

Fall or head injury

🚨

Call 911 immediately if: Unconscious, seizure, clear fluid from nose/ears, unequal pupils, or won't stop crying for 30+ min

1

Stay calm

Pick up baby gently, comfort them.

2

Check for obvious injury

Bleeding, swelling, deformity. Check whole body.

3

Apply cold compress to bumps

Wrapped ice or cold pack. 20 min on, 20 min off.

4

Monitor for 24-48 hours

Watch for vomiting, unusual sleepiness, behavior changes.

When to call doctor (not 911):

Fall from more than 3 feet, hit hard surface, brief crying then seems fine but you're worried, small bump that's swelling.

Swallowed something

🚨

Button battery = EMERGENCY. If swallowed, go to ER immediately. Give honey on the way (if over 12 months).

☎️

Call Poison Control

1-800-222-1222 (24/7, free)

🔋

Battery Ingestion Hotline

1-800-498-8666 (24/7)

1

Do NOT induce vomiting

Unless Poison Control specifically tells you to.

2

Have the container/item ready

Poison Control will ask what it is.

3

Know baby's weight

Helps determine severity.

No honey under 12 months

Honey can cause infant botulism. Only give if baby is over 1 year AND for button battery on way to ER.