What to Do if Your Child is Choking No matter how careful and vigilant a parent may be, accidents sometimes happen. The American Heart Association recommends the following actions to help a choking child. If Your Baby is Choking Hold the baby face down on your forearm, with the infant's head in your hand. Give up to five blows to the back with the heel of your free hand. Turn the baby over and give up to five chest thrusts, placing the heel of your free hand on the lower half of the breastbone. Alternate between the five back blows and five chest thrusts until the object in the baby's throat comes out or the baby becomes unconscious. If the baby becomes unconscious, have someone call 911, and begin giving CPR. If you are alone, call 911 after you have given CPR for about a minute. If Your Older Child is Choking Ask the child if he or she can speak. If he or she cannot, tell him or her that you are going to help. Get behind the child and wrap your arms around his or her midsection. Place your fist against the center of the child's abdomen, between the navel and the ribs. Use your other hand to hold your fist in place. Give abdominal thrusts until the object comes out or until the child becomes unconscious. If the child becomes unconscious, have someone call 911, and begin giving CPR. If you are alone, call 911 after you have given CPR for about a minute.