Baby Keeps Choking Randomly? Causes and What to Do

A baby may cough, gag, or sputter when milk or saliva briefly goes the wrong way, especially during a fast feeding or when they have congestion. Repeated episodes can also have other causes, including reflux or difficulty coordinating swallowing, so we recommend telling your pediatrician when they happen, what your baby was doing, and whether you notice a change in color or breathing.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating why might my baby seem to choke unexpectedly.

A baby who is gagging or coughing can usually make noise and move air; stay close, let them cough, and watch for steady breathing. A baby who cannot cry or cough effectively, makes little or no sound, struggles to breathe, or turns blue needs immediate choking first aid and emergency help.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating how can i tell gagging from choking.

If your baby is under 1 year old and cannot breathe or cough effectively, have someone call 911 while you give five back blows followed by five chest thrusts, repeating until the object comes out or help takes over. If your baby becomes unresponsive, begin infant CPR and follow the dispatcher’s instructions; do not use abdominal thrusts or sweep a finger through your baby’s mouth when you cannot see an object.

Contact your pediatrician promptly if your baby repeatedly coughs or chokes during feeds, seems to have trouble swallowing, or has episodes even when not eating, because the next step depends on the pattern and your baby’s symptoms. For feeding-related episodes, note whether milk seems to flow too quickly and ask about feeding position, pacing, and nipple flow rather than thickening feeds or changing formula on your own.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating what should i do about episodes that keep happening.

Our team made Baby Choking First Aid Made Simple – Infant Safety Ebook for Parents & Caregivers for caregivers who want a dedicated infant-safety guide. You can also read our baby choking first aid guide, but if your baby is having trouble breathing now, call 911 instead of reading further.