If a baby seems to be choking on saliva while sleeping (can't breathe, cry, or cough), immediately place them face down on your forearm with their head lower than their body, give up to 5 firm back blows between shoulder blades, then turn them face up and give up to 5 chest thrusts with two fingers, repeating until clear, and call emergency services (like 000 or 911) if it doesn't resolve quickly. Gravity helps with fluids, and back/chest blows can help expel the liquid or mucus.
There are a number of things that can cause children to cough while sleeping, including sleep apnea, colds, allergies, and asthma. Your baby may also choke on their saliva due to infant reflux or swollen tonsils. Some newborn babies gag because of fluid in their lungs.
1. Back to sleep―even with reflux! Though parents are often concerned that their baby may vomit and choke while sleeping on their back, it is a total myth! Babies automatically cough up or swallow fluid that they spit up or vomit because of the gag reflex, that naturally prevents choking from happening.
First aid for a baby who is choking
Excessive saliva production: Conditions such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or certain medications can lead to an increase in saliva production. An increased volume of saliva may heighten the risk of choking. Stay Hydrated: A dry throat can complicate swallowing.
Most people can usually cough saliva up if they choke on it. For people with certain health issues, choking on saliva can be dangerous. If they are unable to cough up the saliva, it may be necessary to seek immediate medical help.
Infant deaths from choking during sleep are very rare. Studies also show no increase in the number of U.S. infant deaths from choking since the recommendations for back sleeping began in the 1990s.
Signs of Respiratory Distress in Children
No, babies usually don't make noise before SIDS; it's often a silent event, happening during sleep without struggle or crying, which is why it's so tragic and unpredictable, though minor issues like congestion might occur weeks prior, the final event is typically quiet. SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is defined as the sudden, unexplained death of an infant under one year old, often occurring at night, and investigations find no struggle or noise.
If a baby is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, the brain usually triggers the baby to wake up and cry to get more oxygen.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
The "4-4-4 rule" for breast milk is a simple storage guideline: fresh milk is good for 4 hours at room temperature (up to 77°F/25°C), for 4 days in the refrigerator (39°F/4°C or colder), and up to 4-6 months (or longer) in a standard freezer (0°F/-18°C). It's a handy mnemonic, though some organizations like the CDC recommend up to 6 months in the freezer and the AAP up to 9 months, with deeper freezers offering even longer storage.
SIDS has no symptoms or warning signs. Babies don't seem to suffer or struggle. They don't cry.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
Choking occurs when the airway is obstructed by food, drink, or foreign objects. Aspiration occurs when food, drink, or foreign objects are breathed into the lungs (going down the wrong tube). It might happen during choking, but aspiration can also be silent, meaning that there is no outward sign.
However, it can happen wherever your baby is sleeping, such as when in a pushchair or even in your arms. It can also happen sometimes when your baby isn't sleeping – some babies have died in the middle of a feed.
People who become infected with RSV show symptoms within four to six days after the virus enter the body. Initial signs of RSV are similar to mild cold symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, fever, cough and decrease in appetite. Very young infants may be irritable, fatigued and have breathing difficulties.
Risk factors for SIDS include:
Low oxygen levels may cause an increase in heart rate. Color changes. A bluish color around the mouth, on the inside of the lips, or on the fingernails may happen when a child is not getting as much oxygen as needed. The color of the skin may also appear pale or gray.
An increased respiration rate (above 20 breaths per minute in adults) is an indication of respiratory distress. Oxygen saturation levels should be above 94% for an adult without an underlying respiratory condition. Use of neck or intercostal muscles when breathing is an indication of respiratory distress.
What do chest retractions look like? Intercostal retractions look like dents between your ribs and can create a kind of outline around your ribs. They're more common and noticeable in babies and young kids. Healthcare providers may have you look for them to help you know if your child is having trouble breathing.
Strike five separate times between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Give five abdominal thrusts. If back blows don't remove the stuck object, give five abdominal thrusts, also known as the Heimlich maneuver. Alternate between five blows and five thrusts until the blockage is dislodged.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia
fast and/or difficult breathing – your child's breathing will become hard work, and you may see the ribs or skin under the neck 'sucking in' or nostrils flaring when they are breathing; younger babies may bob their heads when breathing. cough. irritability or more tired than usual.