What to Do If a Baby Chokes While Breastfeeding or Bottle-Feeding

After an infant chokes while breastfeeding, the first step is to position the infant’s head lower than the rest of the body and gently pat the infant’s back with the palm of the hand to help expel the milk that has entered the trachea. If symptoms do not improve promptly, repeat this maneuver while urgently transporting the infant to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Most cases of infant choking during breastfeeding occur when excessive milk is secreted during let-down, overwhelming the infant’s ability to swallow effectively. To prevent this, mothers are advised to adopt an appropriate feeding posture and gently press the areola with their fingers (i.e., perform “hand expression” or “milk flow control”) during feeding—this helps regulate milk flow and significantly reduces the risk of choking.