It can be a heart-stopping moment when we think about our child choking. Whether it is an infant choking or choking on food, most parents or caregivers will worry about choking at some point. Taking steps to prevent choking and recognising choking signs are just as vital as being confident in your choking first aid skills. This not only prevents choking events from happening but will help you stay calm in an emergency.

Choking prevention

Children under 5 have the highest risk of choking. Here are a few key points to remember.

Offer safe foods

Round and hard foods pose the highest choking risk. Children under 3 have the highest risk of choking when offered these foods as they are still developing their chewing skills. Ensure things like sausages and grapes are always cut up and avoid giving foods like peanuts, popcorn, uncooked carrot, apple and hard lollies to young children.

Image of safe vs unsafe apple and grape

Keep a safe eating environment and sitting position.

Little ones are less likely to choke if they are sitting down. Ensure they are in an upright position, sitting independently, in a high chair or in an adult's lap. Active supervision is essential. You cannot hear a choking child. Choking is silent.

Image of a child safely sitting in a high chair with a parent next to them

Be aware of unsafe items

There are many non-food items that are a choking risk. Any toy smaller than a ping pong ball or can be broken into smaller pieces is a choking risk. These items should be used with active supervision or removed from the place space. Items that can block the airway such as balloons, coins and marbles also pose a significant choking risk.

Image of an unsafe item next to a ping pong ball

Signs of choking & choking first aid

Recognising the signs of your child choking is key to acting quickly and taking the right action.

There are two types of choking

PARTIAL OBSTRUCTION

What it looks like: When an object is partially blocking a child's airways. They may be working hard to breathe or breathing loudly.

Partial obstruction first aid: STAY CALM and Encourage your child to cough. This can be really hard. Staying calm means your child won't panic and will continue to cough well. Increasing the chances of clearing the obstruction.

COMPLETE OBSTRUCTION

What it looks like: Where an item is completely blocking the airway. There will be no breathing sounds, even when the child tries to cough.

Complete obstruction first aid:

Send for help - call 111 and ask for an ambulance
Give 5 back blows - check to see if the blockage has cleared each time

If not effective

Give 5 chest thrusts - check to see if the blockage has cleared each time, checking to see if the blockage has cleared each time

Giving chest thrusts to a manikin — How to give chest thrusts to a child

Repeat 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object clears if the child loses consciousness.

If consciousness is lost - Start CPR 30 compressions: 2 breaths.

Choking Prevention, Signs and How To Do Choking First Aid