Baby Tools

First Aid Guide

Essential first aid guidance for babies and young children. Know what to do in an emergency.

999

Life-threatening emergency

111

Urgent medical advice

This guide is for reference only. It does not replace proper first aid training. Consider taking a baby first aid course — St John Ambulance, British Red Cross, and many local children's centres offer them.

Choking

If your baby can't breathe, cry, or cough

Signs of choking:

  • • Unable to cry, cough, or make noise
  • • Lips or skin turning blue
  • • Loss of consciousness

For babies under 1 year:

1

Give up to 5 back blows

Lay baby face down along your forearm, supporting their head. Give up to 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.

2

Check mouth

Turn baby over and look in their mouth. Only remove an object if you can clearly see it and pick it out easily. Never poke blindly.

3

Give up to 5 chest thrusts

If back blows don't work, turn baby face up. Place two fingers in the centre of their chest, just below the nipple line. Push down firmly up to 5 times.

4

Call 999

If the object doesn't dislodge after 3 cycles, call 999. Continue back blows and chest thrusts until help arrives or the blockage clears.

Important: Do NOT use abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre) on babies under 1 year — it can cause internal damage.

Fever

High temperature in babies and children

Normal temperature

36.4°C

(around this is normal)

Fever

38°C or above

(high temperature)

What to do:

  • Keep them cool — remove layers, don't wrap them up
  • Offer plenty of fluids (breast milk, formula, or water)
  • Give infant paracetamol (from 2 months) or ibuprofen (from 3 months) if needed — check dosage on the pack
  • Do NOT sponge with cold water — this can make them shiver and raise temperature

Call 999 or go to A&E if your baby:

  • • Is under 3 months old with a temperature of 38°C or above
  • • Has a rash that doesn't fade when you press a glass against it
  • • Has difficulty breathing or is breathing very fast
  • • Is unusually drowsy or hard to wake
  • • Is having a seizure (fit)
  • • Has blue, pale, or blotchy skin

Call 111 if:

  • • Baby is 3-6 months with a temperature of 39°C or above
  • • Fever lasts more than 5 days
  • • You're worried but it's not an emergency

Head Bumps & Falls

Falls from changing tables, beds, sofas

Most minor bumps to the head are not serious. However, watch your baby carefully for the next 24-48 hours.

What to do:

  • Comfort your baby and apply a cold compress (wrapped in cloth) to any swelling
  • If they're tired, let them sleep but check on them regularly
  • Keep feeding normally — it's fine to breastfeed or bottle feed

Call 999 or go to A&E if baby:

  • • Was unconscious, even briefly
  • • Is vomiting repeatedly
  • • Has blood or clear fluid from ears or nose
  • • Has a seizure (fit)
  • • Is unusually drowsy or won't wake up
  • • Has unequal pupils (one bigger than the other)
  • • Has weakness or problems with balance/walking (in older babies)
  • • Has a large or soft swelling on the head
  • • Fell from a significant height (more than their own height)

Trust your instincts. If something doesn't seem right, even if your baby seems okay, call 111 for advice.

Febrile Seizures (Fits)

Seizures caused by high temperature

Febrile seizures are relatively common in children aged 6 months to 3 years. They're caused by a rapid rise in temperature and usually last less than 5 minutes.

What a febrile seizure looks like:

  • • Body becomes stiff, arms and legs twitch
  • • Eyes may roll back
  • • Baby may become unresponsive
  • • May wet or soil themselves

During a seizure:

  • Stay calm — most febrile seizures stop on their own
  • Note the time — seizures usually last 1-2 minutes
  • Make sure they're safe — place them on a soft surface away from hard objects
  • Put them in the recovery position once seizure stops (on their side)
  • Do NOT put anything in their mouth or restrain them

Call 999 if:

  • • It's their first seizure
  • • Seizure lasts more than 5 minutes
  • • Baby doesn't recover quickly afterwards
  • • You're worried about anything

After their first febrile seizure: Your GP or hospital will want to check your baby to rule out any underlying cause. Most children who have one febrile seizure won't have another.

When to Get Help

Knowing which number to call

999

Life-threatening emergency

Ambulance will be dispatched

  • • Not breathing or difficulty breathing
  • • Unconscious or unresponsive
  • • Choking and can't clear it
  • • Severe allergic reaction
  • • Seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
  • • Suspected meningitis
  • • Severe bleeding that won't stop
  • • Blue, grey, or very pale skin
111

Urgent but not life-threatening

24/7 NHS advice line

  • • Worried but unsure if it's an emergency
  • • Need medical advice out of hours
  • • High fever that's not responding to medicine
  • • Baby seems unwell but stable
  • • Vomiting or diarrhoea with signs of dehydration
  • • Mild allergic reaction
  • • Need urgent advice but can wait a few hours
GP

Non-urgent concerns

Book an appointment

  • • Minor illnesses lasting a few days
  • • Rashes that aren't spreading or concerning
  • • Feeding concerns
  • • General health questions
  • • Follow-up after hospital visit

Always trust your instincts. You know your baby best. If something feels wrong, get it checked. NHS staff would always rather you called than didn't.

Take a baby first aid course

This guide is helpful, but nothing beats hands-on training. Many courses are free or low-cost.

St John Ambulance • British Red Cross • NHS First Aid
Important This guide is based on NHS, St John Ambulance, and British Red Cross guidance but is for general information only. It does not replace professional medical advice or proper first aid training. In an emergency, always call 999.