How To Help A Choking Baby

A little knowledge, and your presence of mind can save the day... and your child!

- Aarti Pathak

Mumbai-based Priya was enjoying a pleasant afternoon with her toddler. She was folding laundry and he sat beside her, playing with toys, intermittently sipping water from his sippy cup. A few minutes later, her baby started coughing and turned red. He had possibly choked on the little water that he had just sipped. Instinctively, she placed the baby stomach down on her thighs and patted his back. He sputtered a bit, but he was soon fine. She sighed with relief when her baby went back to playing as before. She replaced the sippy cup with a better one, one that released lesser water at a time. A baby can choke on anything; food, water, toys, small items. Choking in some cases can also be due to the swelling of the throat due to an allergic reaction. If a baby is unable to cough or cry, it could be because she is choking and that her airway is blocked. Alternately, if a baby is coughing or gagging, it could be an indication of a partially blocked airway.