What To Do If Your Baby Chokes

One of the most worrisome scenarios for parents is when something gets stuck in your baby’s throat. This happens more than you think as babies are just learning to swallow. It is therefore important that you know what to do if your baby chokes while eating or drinking. 

The main thing is to stay calm when something gets stuck in your little one’s throat. Usually, babies manage to recover almost immediately on their own. 

The response of many parents is to blow in their child’s face. However, this method is not recommended. If you do this, your child will stop breathing as a reflex, making it harder for him to recover.

Why do babies choke?

During breastfeeding, especially during the first 6 months, babies often choke on milk. In general, babies suck with a lot of energy and enthusiasm which promotes the ejection of the milk. This is the case with both breastfeeding and bottle feeding.

So it is important to check the dosage of milk your little one is getting. This is easier with a bottle since you can change the type of teat.

When breastfeeding, the mother can express a small amount of milk before breastfeeding. This reduces the milk spillage.

Another reason why your baby is choking has to do with stomach or intestinal problems. When babies suffer from reflux, the constant backflow of the milk can cause children to choke. 

When children turn 6 months old, they start eating solid foods. During this new phase it is important not to offer too large or hard pieces of food. This increases the risk of choking. And of course you should never leave your child alone while he is eating.

What to do if your baby chokes while eating?

If your baby is having difficulty eating, stay calm and analyze the problem. If your baby is breastfed, the problem is probably drinking too quickly. In this case, put your child upright so that he can cough. This is probably enough for your baby to recover.

If the problem persists, place your baby face down. Rest your child’s chin in the space between your thumb and index finger and lower his head slightly.

The rest of your baby’s body should be higher than the head. In this way, gravity ensures that the liquid comes out and thus clears your child’s airways.

The next step involves gently tapping the palm of your hand between your child’s shoulder blades. You can use this same method if your baby is choking on food or another object.

If the crisis continues, lay your child on his back and press your thumbs down on his chest. Make sure at all times that your child can breathe and that he does not lose consciousness. 

Observe the color of your baby’s lips. If your baby’s lips are outlined in purple, it means your little one can’t breathe. If this is the case, and your intervention does not work, call the emergency services immediately.

What are the possible consequences if your baby chokes?

The first thing that happens when the aforementioned methods don’t work is that the baby loses consciousness. This happens because of an oxygen deficiency.

In this case, you should give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to bring your child back to consciousness. It is important that your child regains consciousness, as this situation can be fatal.

Although choking while eating is always possible in babies, you should do everything you can to prevent it. When breastfeeding, it is best to put your child upright while breastfeeding. Your child should never lie flat during feeding.

When your baby is learning to eat, you should start with soft foods. Your child can chew and grind this better with his gums. Finally, make sure to also provide water, which will help your little one swallow.