Read time 6 minutes

mum worried about baby

Here we talk about what to do if you find a baby who is unresponsive and not breathing.

Finding your baby unresponsive would be scary for any parent. Should you ever be faced with this situation, it’s important to remain calm and be confident in your actions. Familiarise yourself with the information below and don’t be afraid to use it should you need to in an emergency.

If you want to know what to do if a child (one year to puberty) is found unresponsive and not breathing, read our article here.

Watch this short video to see what to do if a baby is found unresponsive and not breathing.

1. Check for breathing

Tilt their head back and look and feel for breaths. If they’re not breathing, move on to step two.

Tilting their head back opens their airway by pulling the tongue forward. Looking at their chest to see if it’s moving, and putting your face next to their mouth to feel for breaths on your cheek, will help you tell if they’re breathing or not. If they’re not breathing, they may also look pale and blue.

2. Tell someone to call 999

If you’re on your own carry out rescue breaths and chest compressions as described below, for one minute, and then call 999.

3. Give five rescue breaths

Tilt their head back, seal your mouth over their mouth and nose and blow five times into them. You’re acting as the lungs by blowing into them and topping up the oxygen levels in the baby’s blood. This oxygen is needed to keep their organs alive.

4. Give 30 chest compressions

Push firmly in the middle of their chest with two fingers so that the chest goes inward, then release. You’re acting as the heart by keeping blood pumping around their body and helping keep their vital organs, including the brain, alive.

5. Give two rescue breaths and then continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until help arrives

Frequently asked questions about an unresponsive baby

How can I check for a response from the baby?

Call the baby’s name and tap their foot. If they do not move or respond to you, treat them as an unresponsive baby.

Why do I need to check for breathing on an unresponsive baby?

It’s vital to check for breathing because this will indicate how you should help the baby. You will need to take different steps depending on whether they are breathing or not. If they are breathing, they need to be put on their side to help them continue to breathe. If they are not breathing, they will need rescue breaths and chest compressions.

Why do I have to tilt their head back to check for breathing?

When a baby is unresponsive, their muscles relax and their tongue can fall backwards and block their airway. Tilting their head back opens the airway by pulling the tongue forward. If a baby’s tongue had been blocking the airway then tilting their head back should pull the tongue forward, enabling them to breathe again. Sometimes, saving a life really is as simple as that.

How hard should I blow during rescue breaths?

You should blow gently until you see the baby’s chest rise.

How long should I do chest compressions and rescue breaths for?

You should keep going until help arrives or the baby starts to breathe.

Will I see an immediate response to my chest compressions and rescue breaths?

Many people think they will see an immediate response to chest compressions and rescue breaths. However, often you will not see any change at all in the baby’s condition, but your actions may still be having a beneficial effect.

Will giving rescue breaths and chest compressions bring the baby back to life?

The aim of rescue breaths and chest compressions is to give the baby the best chance of survival by acting as their heart and lungs, buying vital time until the ambulance service arrives. The chance of restarting their heart by rescue breaths and chest compressions alone is slim. 

If I press too hard during chest compressions, could I break the baby’s ribs?

The rib cage of a baby is very flexible, so the risk of breaking their ribs by giving chest compressions is actually very small. However, it is important to remember that ultimately the point of doing chest compressions is to keep the baby alive. Without chest compressions and rescue breaths before the ambulance arrives, their chances of survival are much lower.

What if I make a mistake and deliver rescue breaths and chest compressions but the baby is actually still breathing?

It’s not ideal but don’t worry – there’s no evidence to suggest you will smother them or cause any serious damage. You should stop delivering rescue breaths and chest compressions as soon as you realise they are still breathing.

What if I’m on my own and my baby is unresponsive and not breathing?

If you’re on your own, do rescue breaths and chest compressions for one minute and then call 999. Then continue rescue breaths and chest compressions until help arrives. If someone else is with you, they should call the ambulance immediately.

What should I say on the phone to the emergency services?

When you call the emergency services, they will prompt you with questions. In this case, it is important to tell them that the baby is unresponsive and not breathing. The more information you can give the ambulance controller about the situation the better as it will help them prioritise your call.

I have heard the term ‘CPR’, what does it mean?

CPR is the term used to describe the combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths. It is short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

This article was written in association with Mini First Aid.

Further information

Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 0300 330 0700.

NCT and the British Red Cross run First Aid courses for parents with babies and children up to 12 years old on life-saving topics, such as CPR, stopping bleeding and what to do if your child is choking. Find your nearest course.

Related articles

First aid: what to do if your child is unresponsive and not breathing Read article
First aid: what to do if your child starts choking Read article
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