Infant CPR (Under 1 Year): Step-by-Step
Infant CPR (under 1 year, excluding newborns in delivery) uses two fingers or the two-thumb encircling hands technique to compress about 1.5 inches deep at 100–120 per minute. Caring People Rescue offers in-person and blended CPR courses if you're ready to certify.
- Depth: about 1.5 inches (one-third chest depth)
- Single rescuer: 2-finger compressions, 30:2
- Two rescuers: 2-thumb encircling hands, 15:2
- Use pediatric AED pads (front-back) when available
Positioning the infant
Place the infant on a firm, flat surface. Keep the head in a neutral 'sniffing' position — do not hyperextend the neck.
Rescue breaths
Cover the infant's mouth and nose with your mouth. Give gentle puffs just enough to see the chest rise — over-inflating pushes air into the stomach.
Prefer learning hands-on? Caring People Rescue runs in-person and blended infant cpr (under 1 year) classes with certified instructors — visit www.caringpeoplerescue.com to reserve a seat.
Choking vs arrest
A conscious choking infant gets 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts. An unresponsive infant starts CPR, checking the mouth for visible objects before each breath cycle.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do I put my hands?
- Just below the nipple line on the breastbone. Use two fingers if alone or the two-thumb encircling-hands technique with a partner.
- How hard should I push?
- About 1.5 inches deep — roughly one-third the depth of the chest.
- Can I use an AED on an infant?
- Yes — use pediatric pads and place them front-and-back so they don't overlap.