CPR for a baby uses two fingers on the centre of the chest, compressing about one-third of the chest depth (roughly 4cm), at 100–120 compressions per minute, followed by 2 rescue breaths — repeated in cycles of 30:2. Children and adults follow the same rhythm, but the hand position and compression depth change as they grow. Here’s how it breaks down by age, and the full sequence to follow before compressions even start.
I’m Aaron, a practicing paramedic and the founder of Train4Life. The CPR steps below are the same ones we teach in our Baby & Child First Aid Workshop, based on the calls we actually attend.
What Does DRSABCD Stand For?
DRSABCD is the sequence paramedics use to assess and respond to any emergency, not just cardiac arrest. It’s the framework that tells you when to start CPR, not just how.
- D — Danger: Check the scene is safe for you and the child before you approach.
- R — Response: Tap and shout. For babies, use the palm reflex — place a finger in their palm; if their fingers curl around it, that’s a response.
- S — Send for help: Call 000 immediately, or have someone else call while you start CPR.
- A — Airway: Tilt the head back slightly and lift the chin to open the airway. Check for and clear any visible obstruction.
- B — Breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
- C — CPR: If they’re not breathing or only gasping, begin compressions immediately.
- D — Defibrillation: Use an AED as soon as one is available. Turn it on and follow the voice prompts.
How Do You Do CPR on a Baby Under 1 Year?
- Check safety and responsiveness — tap the baby’s feet and speak loudly, or check the palm reflex.
- Call 000 — yourself if alone, or ask someone nearby.
- Open the airway — tilt the head back just slightly to lift the chin. Babies have proportionally large heads, so placing a folded towel under the shoulders can help keep the airway aligned.
- Check for breathing — no more than 10 seconds.
- Chest compressions — two fingers in the centre of the chest, just below the nipple line. Compress about one-third of the chest depth (around 4cm). 30 compressions at 100–120 per minute.
- Rescue breaths — cover the baby’s nose and mouth with your mouth to form a seal. Give a gentle breath, just enough to see the chest rise. Two breaths.
- Continue the 30:2 cycle until the baby starts breathing or emergency services arrive.
How Is CPR on a Child (1 Year to Puberty) Different?
The sequence is the same, but the physical technique adjusts as a child grows:
- Hand position: One or two hands on the centre of the chest, depending on the child’s size.
- Compression depth: About one-third of the chest depth — roughly 5cm.
- Rate: Still 100–120 compressions per minute, 30:2 with rescue breaths.
- Rescue breaths: Seal your mouth over the child’s mouth and nose (or just the mouth for older children, pinching the nose), giving a breath that makes the chest visibly rise.
From around 1 year of age, two-finger compressions (used for babies) usually aren’t enough to compress the chest properly, so most people move to one or two hands depending on the child’s size.
What About CPR on an Adult?
Adult CPR follows the same 30:2 rhythm with a different hand technique: the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest, the other hand on top with fingers interlocked, compressing about 5cm deep at 100–120 compressions per minute. Rescue breaths involve pinching the nose and sealing your mouth over theirs.
Why Does Compression Depth Change by Age?
It comes down to chest size and structure, not a different “rule.” The target is always roughly a third of the chest’s depth — that’s a few centimetres for a baby’s small chest, and closer to 5cm for a child or adult. Going by feel and by the size of the person in front of you is safer than trying to remember exact numbers under pressure — this is exactly why hands-on practice matters more than reading the steps once.
Does CPR Training Actually Prepare You for a Real Emergency?
Reading through the steps helps you understand the sequence, but CPR is a physical skill — knowing the right amount of pressure, pacing your compressions, and getting the airway position right is something that’s genuinely easier to feel than to picture. That’s why we built a free CPR course into our program: it walks through the sequence step by step so you can practice alongside the instructions, not just read them once and hope you remember under pressure.
Key Takeaways
- Follow DRSABCD before starting compressions — danger, response, send for help, airway, breathing, CPR, defibrillation.
- Compressions are always 30, followed by 2 rescue breaths, at 100–120 per minute.
- Compression depth and hand position change with age: two fingers (~4cm) for babies, one or two hands (~5cm) for children, two hands (~5cm) for adults.
- CPR is a critical link in the chain of survival for cardiac arrest — but it’s a skill best learned hands-on.
This article is for educational purposes and isn’t a substitute for accredited first aid training. In an emergency, always call 000. Want to practice this sequence properly? Try our free CPR course or explore the full Baby & Child First Aid Workshop, taught by a practising Intensive Care Paramedic.