Infant CPR & First Aid Prep

Search redcross.org or heart.org for classes near you. In-person beats online - you need to feel the compression depth on a mannequin to get it right.

Both of you need the muscle memory. If one parent is with baby and something happens, there's no time to call the other one for instructions.

Two fingers, 1.5 inches deep, 100-120 compressions per minute. It feels aggressive on something that small. That's normal - practice until it's automatic.

5 back blows, 5 chest thrusts, check the mouth, repeat. Different from adult Heimlich - never do abdominal thrusts on an infant under 1 year.

Set a calendar reminder for 12 months out. Skills degrade fast without practice. A 1-hour refresher course can save a life.

Rectal temperature is the gold standard for babies under 3 months. Forehead and ear thermometers are convenient but less accurate when precision matters most.

Safe for babies 2+ months. Know the weight-based dosing before you need it - check with your pediatrician for your baby's specific dose.

Motrin or Advil infant drops. NOT for babies under 6 months. Keep both acetaminophen and ibuprofen so you can alternate if needed during high fevers.

NoseFrida or bulb syringe plus saline drops. Babies can't blow their noses - you'll use this weekly during cold season. Two drops of saline, wait 30 seconds, then suction.

Assorted adhesive bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, and Neosporin or Bacitracin. Minor cuts and scrapes start happening as soon as baby is mobile.

Program it as a contact now, not when you're panicked at 2am trying to remember the office number. Label it clearly: 'Dr. Smith After Hours.'

Save it in both parents' phones right now. When baby eats something they shouldn't (and they will), you need this number in 10 seconds, not 10 minutes.

Star it in Google Maps or Apple Maps as a favorite. Know the fastest route from your house. Practice the drive so it's automatic when adrenaline takes over.

Someone within 5 minutes who can come watch your other kids or meet you at the house. Exchange keys and phone numbers. Community is the real safety net.

Grapes, hot dogs, popcorn, raw carrots, peanut butter by the spoonful. The AAP has a full list. Print it and tape it to the inside of a kitchen cabinet.

Quarter grapes and cut hot dogs lengthwise, then into small pieces. Round shapes are the exact size and shape of a baby's airway. This is the #1 choking food.

These are firm choking hazards that can't be crushed by baby teeth. It's not being paranoid - it's being informed. The ER sees these cases every week.

Gagging is loud with coughing - baby is handling it. Choking is silent with no airflow. If baby is coughing, let them work it out. Silent and red? That's when you act.

Difficulty breathing, lips turning blue, unresponsive, seizure, severe allergic reaction (swelling, hives, trouble breathing), or fall from significant height. Don't hesitate - call first, assess second.

Rectal for under 3 months (lubricate tip, insert 1/2 inch). Armpit works for a quick check on older babies. Know the method before the 2am fever arrives.

Normal: 97.8-100.4°F. For babies under 3 months, 100.4°F or higher is an ER visit - no exceptions. For older babies, call the pediatrician at 101°F+.

Fewer than 6 wet diapers in 24 hours, no tears when crying, sunken fontanelle (soft spot), dry mouth. Dehydration in babies escalates fast - call the pediatrician immediately.