Infant CPR Basics: What Every Parent Should Know

In honor of SIDS Awareness month, I want to share with you my biggest fear.  I am absolutely terrified that I will wake up in the middle of the night to one of my babies not breathing.  I know I am not alone in this, as every parents' nightmare is losing a child.  Do you know what to do if, Heaven forbid, your little one stops breathing?

Infant CPR

*If you are alone with the child, perform CPR for 2 minutes, and then call 911.*

Check breathing

If the child is not breathing (or is breathing irregularly) sweep their mouths for any foreign object and position them on their back.

Begin chest compressions

Using two or three fingers in the center of the baby's chest, just below nipple-level, give 30 compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. 

Don't know how fast 100 beats per minute is?  Here is a list of songs with a tempo of 100 BMP to help you remember the speed of compressions:

Songs that can save a life

99 Red Balloons by Nena
Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross
Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's
I Want You To Want Me by Letters To Cleo
Accidentally In Love by Counting Crows
All You Need Is Love by The Beatles
Back in Black by AC/DC 
Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf
Walking On Sunshine by Jump5

Give 2 gentle breaths

Slightly lift the infant's chin so that the airway is open and cover their mouth and nose with your mouth.  Give 2 slow breaths, each one lasting a second.  You should be able to see the chest rise with each breath.

Continue with 30 compressions and two breaths until help arrives.