Signs and Symptoms of Infant Aspiration for Parents

Warning signs that baby is aspirating:

• Ongoing need or increasing supplemental oxygen
• Frequent illness (respiratory related, pneumonia)

SUBTLE SIGNS THAT BABY IS ASPIRATING

• apnea (breathing stops for longer than 15-20 sec) and bradycardia (heart rate slows)
• watery eyes

 

• eyebrow raising, sudden gasp, hyperalert (think of a startle gasp)
• turns head away, refuses to feed (baby’s body knows and is trying to protect itself)
• nasal flaring (little nose holes flare open during drinking, followed by quick inhalation)
• skin color changes
• sudden state or tone changes (baby goes from being comfortably alert to screaming and upset, baby suddenly goes limp and unresponsive)

OBVIOUS SIGNS THAT BABY IS ASPIRATING

• Coughing
• Gagging
• Turning blue
• Refusing to feed
• Wet cry/voice after feeding
• Physiological instability (O2 sats or heart rate drop)

What should you do?  Start taking notes.  If you have concerns, then write down your evidence why.

• When is this happening?  time of day? every feed?
• What’s baby’s state before/during/after feeding?
• Does changing position make a difference?
• Does changing the flow rate / nipple make a difference

Please, please, if you suspect that your child is aspirating during feeding contact your primary care physician or pediatrician.