Baby checklists
Third trimester
Infant CPR & First Aid Prep Checklist
22 items · 21 must-haves · Weeks 28–36
General info, not medical advice. Your OB, midwife or pediatrician knows your situation; check with them. Learn more about our medical disclaimer
Training, supplies, and knowledge every parent needs before an emergency happens
Training
- Find an AHA or Red Cross infant CPR classSearch 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 parents attend the class togetherBoth 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.
- Practice compressions and rescue breaths on an infant mannequinHeel of one hand (or two thumbs with your hands wrapped around the chest), about 1.5 inches deep, 100-120 a minute. Older classes taught two fingers; the 2025 guidelines dropped it. It feels aggressive on something that small. That's normal - practice until it's automatic.
- Learn infant choking rescue (back blows + chest thrusts)5 back blows, 5 chest thrusts, check the mouth, repeat. Different from adult Heimlich - never do abdominal thrusts on an infant under 1 year.
- Plan to refresh your training annuallySet a calendar reminder for 12 months out. Skills degrade fast without practice. A 1-hour refresher course can save a life.
First Aid Kit
- Get an infant thermometer (rectal is most accurate)Rectal temperature is the gold standard for babies under 3 months. Forehead and ear thermometers are convenient but less accurate when precision matters most.
- Stock infant acetaminophen (Tylenol)Don't give it under 12 weeks unless your pediatrician tells you to; any fever of 100.4°F or higher at that age means calling the doctor now. Know the weight-based dosing before you need it - check with your pediatrician for your baby's specific dose.
- Stock infant ibuprofen for 6 months and olderMotrin or Advil infant drops. NOT for babies under 6 months. Keep both acetaminophen and ibuprofen on hand, and give one at a time unless your pediatrician gives you a schedule.
- Get a nasal aspirator and saline dropsNoseFrida 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.
- Stock bandages and antibiotic ointmentAssorted adhesive bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, and Neosporin or Bacitracin. Minor cuts and scrapes start happening as soon as baby is mobile.
Emergency Numbers
- Save pediatrician's after-hours line in your phoneProgram 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 Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222Save 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.
- Save the nearest ER address in your phone's mapsStar 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.
- Identify a trusted neighbor for emergenciesOPTIONALSomeone 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.
Choking Prevention
- Learn which foods are choking hazardsGrapes, 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.
- Always cut grapes and hot dogs lengthwiseQuarter 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.
- No popcorn, whole nuts, or hard candy under age 4These 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.
- Always supervise eating and know gagging vs. chokingGagging 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.
When to Call 911
- Know the signs that require calling 911 immediatelyDifficulty 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.
Home Safety
- Learn how to take baby's temperature correctlyRectal 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.
- Know normal temperature ranges and fever thresholdsNormal is below 100.4°F. For babies under 3 months, 100.4°F or higher means call the pediatrician now, any hour (ER if you can't reach them within minutes). Over 3 months, how the baby acts matters more than the number: call for a fever lasting more than 24 hours, one that keeps going above 104°F, or any fever in a baby who seems sick.
- Recognize signs of dehydration in infantsFewer 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.
Check it off together
Make a free account to tick items off as you go. Your partner sees the same list, ticks included.