Toddler and child CPR

What to do if your toddler or child isn’t breathing

If your toddler or child stops breathing for any reason, you will need to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation to get his heart beating again. Here’s how…

Step 1 Lay your child on his back and open his airway. Do this by placing two fingers of one hand on his forehead and two fingers of the other hand under his chin and tilting his chin up slightly.

Step 2 Check for signs of breathing by placing your cheek close to your child’s mouth. Watch for chest movements that signal he is breathing.

Step 3 If your child isn’t breathing, you need to give him two rescue breaths. Do this by pinching his nostrils and blowing into his mouth until you see his chest rise.

Step 4 You need to stimulate his heart by giving him chest compressions. Do this by placing the heel of your hand on the center of his chest over his sternum (breastbone). Place your other hand over it, lace your fingers together and press down to a depth of around one third your child’s chest. Allow his chest to return to a normal position between compressions – you’ll need to do 30.

Step 5 Alternate between rescue breaths and chest compressions for two minutes.

Step 6 If your child hasn’t started breathing again, call 911.

Step 7 Continue with the rescue breaths and chest compressions until your child starts breathing or the ambulance arrives.

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