How to Perform CPR on a Child, Baby, or Toddler: Step-by-Step

When to Start CPR on a Child?

CPR is appropriate when a child is unresponsive and either isn't breathing normally or is only gasping. Gasping is not the same as breathing, and it's a sign that the body needs help right away.

This issue matters because many children go into cardiac arrest as a result of a breathing problem rather than a heart problem. Recognizing that starting CPR early and without hesitation gives a child a real chance of a positive outcome.

Check Responsiveness

1. Make sure the scene is safe for you to approach.
2. Tap the child and call their name loudly.
3. Check for breathing for no more than 10 seconds.

If you aren't trained to check a pulse, don't delay CPR to look for one. The American Heart Association's current pediatric guidelines are clear that untrained caregivers should begin CPR based on unresponsiveness and abnormal or absent breathing alone.

How to Activate Emergency Response

Call 911 on speakerphone, and if someone else is with you, send them for an AED while you begin CPR without delay. If you're alone and you witnessed the collapse, call 911 first, then start CPR. If the collapse was unwitnessed, give about 2 minutes of CPR before stepping away to call and find an AED.

Recent AHA research presented in late 2025 found that starting CPR within 5 minutes of a child's heart stopping nearly doubled the child's chances of survival. As one of the study's researchers put it, "If a child's heart suddenly stops, every second counts." 

How to Perform CPR on a Child

Give Chest Compressions

1. Lay the child on their back on a firm surface.
2. Place the heel of one or both hands on the lower half of the breastbone. Use two hands for a larger child and one hand for a smaller child.
3. Push straight down about 2 inches at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
4. Let the chest fully recoil between each compression, and avoid pausing for more than 10 seconds at a time.

Give Rescue Breaths

1. Tilt the head back gently and lift the chin to open the airway.
2. Pinch the nose closed and create a full seal over the mouth.
3. Give 2 breaths, each about 1 second long, watching for the chest to visibly rise.

If the chest doesn't rise on the first try, reposition the head tilt and check your seal before trying again, rather than giving a more forceful breath. For a single rescuer, the ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths, repeated in cycles.

Continue and Use an AED

Keep repeating the cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths. As soon as an AED arrives, turn it on and follow its voice prompts, resuming compressions as soon as it's attached. If two trained rescuers are present, the ratio changes to 15 compressions and 2 breaths. When a second rescuer is available, switch roles every 2 minutes or so, since fatigue is one of the main reasons compression depth drops during a longer resuscitation attempt.

How CPR Differs by Age

The AHA guidelines group pediatric patients into two categories: infants under 1 year old and children from age 1 to puberty. A baby's chest is shaped and sized very differently from an older child's, which is why the technique shifts between the two.

	Infant (Under 1)	Child (1 to Puberty)
Compression depth	About 1.5 inches	About 2 inches
Compression technique	Two thumbs, encircling hands, or the heel of one hand	Heel of one or two hands
Rate	100 to 120/min	100 to 120/min
Single-rescuer ratio	30:2	30:2
Two-rescuer ratio	15:2	15:2

Infant CPR

1. Lay the baby on their back on a firm surface.
2. Choose your hand technique: use two thumbs, wrapping your hands around the sides of the chest, or the heel of one hand if you can't encircle the chest. The two-thumb technique tends to produce more consistent depth when performed by two rescuers, while the heel-of-one-hand method suits a single rescuer or those with smaller hands.
3. Compress about 1.5 inches deep at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
4. To give a rescue breath, cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth to create a seal, then give a gentle breath just strong enough to make the chest rise.

Note that the two-finger technique once taught for infant compressions is no longer recommended. The 2025 AHA and AAP guideline update removed it because it often failed to reach adequate depth. Certified infant CPR training lets you practice the current technique on a manikin until it feels natural.

Toddler and Child CPR

Toddlers generally follow the same child CPR sequence used from age 1 through puberty, rather than a separate protocol. Hand choice depends on the child's size, while compression depth stays tied to the size of their chest rather than their exact age.

Child CPR Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-meaning caregivers can make small errors that reduce CPR effectiveness, often without realizing it at the time. None of these are reasons to feel discouraged; they're simply worth knowing in advance.

• Waiting too long to start CPR out of fear of doing it wrong
• Spending too much time checking for breathing or a pulse
• Compressing too shallowly, or leaning on the chest between compressions
• Giving breaths too forcefully
• Pausing too often or for too long during compressions
• Delaying AED use once one is available

Hesitation is the most common mistake of all. If a child's heart has stopped, doing something, even imperfect CPR, gives them a chance that waiting does not.

How to Prepare for a Child CPR Emergency

Reading through these steps is a great start. Here's how to actually get ready:

1. Take an Expert-Led Infant and Child CPR Class

An infant and child CPR class gives you something a page can't: hands-on practice on a manikin, with real-time feedback on your compression depth and rescue-breath technique. That feedback loop is what turns knowledge into muscle memory, so you can act calmly instead of freezing when it matters.

2. Look for a Class That Covers More Than Compressions

A comprehensive class typically goes well beyond CPR alone. Look for one that also covers:

• Choking response for infants and children
• Common household emergencies: burns, seizures, poisonings, head injuries
• Time for questions specific to your own household setup (a pool, stairs, a pet, and so on)

3. Bring Your Whole Care Team, Not Just Yourself

Invite your partner, grandparents, and any regular babysitters to take the class with you. Everyone who spends time with your child benefits from the same hands-on practice.

4. Know Your Emergency Setup Ahead of Time

Once you've taken the class, make sure everyone who cares for your child knows where the nearest AED is and how to quickly access emergency information.

5. If You're Still Expecting, Start Even Earlier

Consider pairing this course with prenatal classes that cover newborn safety alongside birth preparation so the learning curve doesn't all happen at once after your baby arrives.

Child CPR FAQs

How Long Should You Perform CPR on a Child?

Continue CPR until the child shows signs of life, an AED becomes available, trained help arrives and takes over, or you're too exhausted to continue safely. Never stop simply because a few cycles haven't produced an immediate response.

Can You Use an AED on a Child?

Yes. Pediatric pads are preferred for children under 8 or under 55 lbs, but if only adult pads are available, use them rather than withhold a shock. The American Heart Association confirms a shock is always better than none.

What if You Cannot Give Rescue Breaths?

Compression-only CPR is far better than no CPR at all. That said, rescue breaths matter more for children than adults, since pediatric emergencies are often breathing-related, so add them as soon as you're able to.

Is Toddler CPR the Same as Child CPR?

Yes, toddlers use the same general child CPR sequence used from age 1 until puberty. Technique details, such as hand placement, can vary slightly depending on a child's size, but the core steps stay the same.