What should I do if my baby is choking and I am alone?

Call 911 immediately or have someone else call while you perform back blows and chest thrusts. For infants under 12 months, give 5 back blows between the shoulder blades followed by 5 chest thrusts on the center of the chest. Alternate until the object is dislodged or emergency help arrives. Never perform abdominal thrusts on an infant.

At what temperature is a baby's fever considered a medical emergency?

Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, any fever in a baby younger than 3 months (rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius or higher) is a medical emergency requiring immediate care. For babies 3 to 6 months, a fever above 102.2 F (39 C) warrants a call to your pediatrician right away.

My toddler fell and hit their head. When should I go to the ER?

Go to the emergency room immediately if your child loses consciousness even briefly, vomits more than once, has a seizure, is inconsolable for more than 10 minutes after the fall, has unequal pupils, or shows difficulty walking or talking. A large soft lump (goose egg) is generally normal; a dent or hard swelling warrants urgent evaluation.

How do I treat a minor burn on my baby at home?

Run cool (not cold or icy) water over the burn for a minimum of 10 minutes. Do not apply butter, toothpaste, or ice. Cover loosely with a sterile non-stick dressing. Seek medical attention if the burn is larger than the size of your baby's palm, located on the face, hands, feet, or genitals, or if blistering is present in a child under 5.

What first aid supplies should every home with a baby have?

A well-stocked infant first aid kit should include a digital rectal thermometer (the most accurate for infants), infant acetaminophen (after 2 months per your pediatrician's guidance), sterile gauze pads, adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, a bulb syringe, saline nasal drops, and the Poison Control number: 1-800-222-1222.

First Aid for Common Baby Emergencies (2026): What Every Parent Must Know

Choking, burns, fever spikes, falls -- this guide walks you through the exact steps for the most common baby emergencies, with clear actions for birth through age 5.

Quick Answer: What to do in a baby emergency right now

If your baby is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 911 immediately and begin infant CPR. If your baby is choking and cannot cry or cough, alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts and call 911. For a fever of 100.4 F or higher in a baby under 3 months, go to the emergency room without waiting.

The single most useful thing you can do before any emergency happens: take a certified infant CPR and first aid course from the American Red Cross or your hospital. A 4-hour class teaches hands-on technique that no article can fully replace. That said, knowing the core steps before panic sets in genuinely saves lives.

Choking: the most urgent baby emergency

Choking is the leading cause of injury death in children younger than 4 years, according to the CDC. Infants are at highest risk because their airways are roughly the diameter of a drinking straw.

Recognize it fast. A choking baby cannot cry, make noise, cough forcefully, or breathe. Their face may turn red, then blue (cyanotic). Weak, ineffective coughing with a high-pitched wheeze is also a sign of partial obstruction. Do not wait to see if it resolves.

For infants under 12 months:

Hold the baby face-down on your forearm, supporting the head below the chest. Use your thigh for extra support.
Deliver 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
Flip the baby face-up on your forearm. Place 2 fingers on the center of the chest, just below the nipple line.
Give 5 chest thrusts, pressing down about 1.5 inches each time.
Alternate back blows and chest thrusts until the object comes out or emergency services arrive.

Never perform abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich maneuver) on a baby under 12 months. The force can damage their liver. For toddlers over 12 months who can stand, abdominal thrusts are appropriate.

Prevention matters as much as response. Cut foods into pieces no larger than 0.5 inch for children under 4. Avoid hard raw vegetables, whole grapes, hot dogs, nuts, popcorn, and large chunks of meat. The CPSC recommends all toys be tested before use — look for the ASTM F963 toy safety standard on the packaging.

If you are looking for a choking response training tool, the infant first aid poster category on Amazon includes laminated reference cards some parents keep on the refrigerator.

Fever: reading the numbers that matter

Not every fever is an emergency, but in the first months of life, fever is treated very differently than in older children. Here are the thresholds the AAP uses:

Under 3 months old, rectal temp 100.4 F (38 C) or higher: Go to the ER. A newborn’s immune system cannot fight infection the way an older child’s can, and a fever at this age may indicate a serious bacterial infection.
3 to 6 months, fever above 102.2 F (39 C): Call your pediatrician immediately.
6 months and older, fever above 104 F (40 C) that does not come down with fever reducers: Call your pediatrician.
Any age, fever lasting more than 5 days: Medical evaluation needed.
Any age, fever with stiff neck, rash, severe headache, or sensitivity to light: Go to the ER. These can be signs of meningitis.

Measuring accurately. In babies under 3 months, a rectal thermometer is the only reliable method. Forehead strips and ear thermometers are not accurate enough for clinical decisions at this age. The Braun ThermoScan 7 ear thermometer is frequently cited for accuracy in older infants, but for newborns, stick with a digital rectal model.

Treating fever at home. Infant acetaminophen (such as Tylenol Infants’ Drops) is appropriate after 2 months of age, dosed by weight — not age — per the label. Ibuprofen (Motrin Infants’) is only safe after 6 months. Never give aspirin to a child under 18 years because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Sponging with lukewarm water (not cold, not alcohol) can help reduce discomfort.

Keep a digital rectal thermometer in your first aid kit before the baby arrives. It is one product that costs under $15 and can determine whether you spend a night in the ER or not.

Falls and head injuries: when to worry

Falls are the most common cause of non-fatal injuries in children under 5, per the CDC. Most falls from baby gear or furniture at home result in minor injuries, but a head injury in a pre-verbal child requires extra attention because they cannot tell you what hurts.

Go to the ER immediately if your child:

Loses consciousness, even for a few seconds
Vomits more than once after the fall
Has a seizure
Is inconsolable for more than 10 minutes
Has pupils of unequal size
Has a dent or hard swelling (not a soft goose egg) on the skull
Cannot be woken normally after sleeping

A goose egg (soft, raised lump) is usually benign. It forms because the scalp bleeds easily and swells outward rather than into the brain. It looks alarming but is generally not dangerous. Ice wrapped in a cloth (never directly on skin) for 20 minutes can reduce swelling.

Falls from baby gear. The CPSC has issued multiple recalls on highchairs, bouncers, and changing tables due to fall risk. Before buying secondhand gear, check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov. Brands like Graco, Chicco, and 4moms regularly update harness and restraint designs — always register your product to receive recall notifications directly.

Prevention. Use safety straps on every piece of baby gear, every single time. A baby can roll off a changing table in under 2 seconds. Keep one hand on the baby at all times during diaper changes. Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs once a child is mobile; the AAP recommends hardware-mounted gates (not pressure-mounted) at the top of stairs.

Burns, poisoning, and allergic reactions: three more scenarios to prep for

Burns

The majority of pediatric burns are scalds from hot liquids. The steps to remember are:

Remove the child from the source.
Run cool running water over the burn for at least 10 minutes. Do not use ice, butter, oil, or toothpaste — all of these worsen the injury.
Remove clothing and jewelry near the burn, unless it is stuck to the skin.
Cover loosely with a sterile non-stick dressing or clean wrap.
Seek emergency care if: the burn is on the face, hands, feet, genitals, or over a joint; if it is larger than the child’s palm; or if blistering is present in a child under 5.

Never test bath water with your elbow — use a dedicated bath thermometer. The Munchkin White Hot safety bath duck and the FridaBaby 3-in-1 Grooming kit both include temperature gauges. Bath water for babies should be no warmer than 100 F (37.8 C).

Poisoning

Children under 5 account for roughly half of all poison exposures reported to US Poison Control centers each year. The most common sources are medications, cleaning products, vitamins, and button batteries.

If you suspect poisoning:

Do NOT induce vomiting unless Poison Control specifically tells you to.
Call Poison Control immediately: 1-800-222-1222 (US, available 24/7).
If the child is unconscious, not breathing, or having a seizure, call 911 first.

Store all medications, vitamins, and cleaning products in locked cabinets at least 5 feet off the ground. Child-resistant caps are not childproof — they slow children down, they do not stop them.

Button batteries deserve special mention. If a child swallows a button battery, go to the ER immediately — do not wait for symptoms. A 20 mm lithium battery can cause severe internal burns within 2 hours of ingestion.

Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis

Food allergies affect an estimated 8% of children in the US. The most severe reaction, anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening within minutes.

Signs of anaphylaxis include: hives combined with vomiting, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or tongue, loss of consciousness, or a sudden drop in energy. If you observe multiple body systems reacting at once, do not wait — call 911 and use an epinephrine auto-injector if one has been prescribed.

For children with a known severe allergy, brands like Auvi-Q and EpiPen make infant and toddler-sized auto-injectors. Keep 2 devices with your child at all times and check the expiration dates every 6 months.

Bottom Line: preparation is the real first aid

Emergencies feel overwhelming because they arrive without warning. The parents who respond most effectively are the ones who rehearsed the steps before they needed them.

Three things to do this week:

Book an infant CPR and first aid class at your local hospital or Red Cross chapter. A 4-hour course costs roughly $50 to $80 and covers hands-on choking response, infant CPR, and basic wound care.
Stock a basic infant first aid kit. At minimum: a digital rectal thermometer, sterile gauze, adhesive bandages, saline drops, infant acetaminophen (after clearing with your pediatrician), and the Poison Control number on the fridge.
Know your triggers for 911 vs. urgent care vs. wait and watch. The fever thresholds, the head injury signs, and the burn size guidelines in this article give you a framework.

A well-regarded starter kit to explore is the infant first aid kit category on Amazon — look for kits that include a rectal thermometer and sterile dressings. Check current Amazon pricing before buying, as prices vary.

No article replaces a trained provider. If you are ever in doubt about whether your child is having an emergency, call 911 or your pediatrician’s after-hours line. Erring on the side of seeking care is always the right call with a pre-verbal child who cannot tell you how they feel.