Infant CPR training for parents is one of the few preparations that costs a few hours and may matter for the rest of a child's life. This guide walks you through the full decision path: who should be trained, which course to book, what format suits you, how to vet the provider, what to do on class day, which skills to master, and how to keep them. You will finish with a class completed or scheduled and a renewal plan in place. Before you start, you need a rough idea of which adults in your household or caregiver circle should be trained and a few hours to set aside, either in one block or split across a blended course.

Step 1: Decide Who Needs to Be Trained

Start with a written list of every adult who regularly cares for the baby. That usually includes both parents, grandparents, a nanny or regular babysitter, and any relative who watches the child alone. Include people who only fill in occasionally if they are ever the only adult present.

Then rank the list by one question: who is ever solo with the infant? A person alone has no one else to call 911 while they begin compressions or back blows, so they are the highest priority. A grandparent who babysits every Friday afternoon should be trained before an aunt who only visits on holidays with other adults around.

If you are expecting, you can train before the birth. Many parents choose the last part of pregnancy, when the baby feels real but the newborn weeks have not yet consumed every spare hour. Leave a buffer, though. Babies arrive on their own schedule, so book a class several weeks before your due date rather than the week of it, and keep a backup option in mind.

When your list is done, note two things beside each name: how often they are alone with the baby, and whether anyone needs a card for work. Both details shape the choices in the next steps.

Step 2: Choose the Right Course Type

There are two broad categories, and they serve different people.

  • Family and friends CPR course: designed for parents, grandparents, and other non-professionals. It teaches the skills but does not issue a certification card.
  • Certification course: such as CPR/AED and First Aid for childcare providers. It ends with a card that an employer or licensing body can verify, and it is the right choice for nannies, daycare staff, and some foster or adoptive parents.

Before you book either one, read the course description for infant content. The infant is anyone under 1 year old, and the technique differs from adult and child CPR in hand position, compression depth, and choking response. A common mistake is assuming an adult-only class covers babies. Look for explicit mention of infant skills practice, including choking relief for a conscious infant and what to do when an infant becomes unresponsive.

Next, find out whether anyone on your list needs a card. Ask the employer, check daycare licensing rules, or confirm requirements with your foster or adoption agency. Requirements vary, so get the answer in writing if you can. If a card is required, a family and friends course will not satisfy it, and you will have spent time and money on the wrong class.

If nobody needs a card, a family and friends course is often the simplest fit. If some caregivers do, you may end up booking two different courses for different people, which is perfectly normal.

Step 3: Pick a Format: In-Person, Blended, or Online-Only

CPR is a physical skill, so the format matters as much as the content.

In-Person

A fully in-person class gives you time on infant manikins with an instructor watching. This is where someone corrects your finger placement, tells you your compressions are too shallow, or shows you how to hold a baby face down along your forearm. For first-time learners, it is the strongest option.

Blended Learning

Blended courses split the work. You complete the lessons online at your own pace, then attend a short in-person session to demonstrate skills. This suits parents with limited time, since the hands-on portion is shorter, but the practice component is still real.

Online-Only

Video-only courses can build awareness and are better than nothing as a refresher. They do not include a hands-on skills check, and many employers and licensing bodies do not accept them. If anyone needs a valid card, verify acceptance before you pay.

Whatever you choose, ask two practical questions about in-person sessions: how large the class is, and how many infant manikins there are per student. A class where six people share one manikin means a lot of watching and very little practice. Ideally each learner has their own, or shares with one other person.

Step 4: Verify the Provider and Register

Confirm that the instructor is certified and that the curriculum follows current guidelines from the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Both organizations update their guidelines periodically, so ask which edition the class teaches. As of 2026, you want a provider using the current published version rather than older materials.

Before registering, get clear answers to these questions:

  • What does the class cost, and what does that price include?
  • How long is the class, including any online portion?
  • If a card is issued, how long is it valid? Most certifications run two years.
  • What is the cancellation or reschedule policy? This matters most for expectant parents whose dates may shift.

Prices and class lengths vary by provider and course type, so confirm directly rather than relying on a figure you saw elsewhere.

Also ask about group or private sessions. If you want both sets of grandparents and a sitter trained together, a session at your home or a private class can be easier than coordinating several schedules. You can practice in the same space where an emergency would likely happen.

Midwest CPR Center is a local option for CPR, First Aid, and AED training, with certified instruction and courses for both families and professionals. Whichever provider you pick, register as soon as you decide, since popular weekend and evening slots fill first.

Step 5: Prepare for Class Day

A little preparation makes the session more useful.

  1. Dress to kneel. You will practice on the floor, so wear comfortable clothes that let you move freely.
  2. Finish any pre-work. In a blended course, complete the online lessons before you arrive. Showing up without them can mean being turned away from the skills session.
  3. Write down your questions. Think about real situations in your home. What if the baby is in a crib? In a car seat? On a bed? Instructors can adapt technique to these settings, but only if you ask.
  4. Sort out childcare. Some providers do not allow babies in the room during practice. Ask in advance so you are not scrambling that morning, and arrange for someone to watch your child if needed.

Eat beforehand and bring water. Compressions on a manikin are tiring, especially if you repeat them several times, and a hungry learner concentrates less well. If you are late in pregnancy, tell the instructor so they can suggest comfortable positions for floor work.

Step 6: Master the Core Infant Skills in Class

This guide does not replace a class, but knowing what you are aiming for helps you ask better questions. The figures below reflect AHA and Red Cross guidance as of 2026; your instructor will teach the current standard, so follow them if anything differs.

  • Check and call: Tap the baby's foot and shout. If there is no response, send someone to call 911. If you are alone, put your phone on speaker and start.
  • Compressions: Place two fingers at the center of the chest. When two rescuers are present, the two-thumb technique with your hands encircling the chest is used. Press down about one-third the depth of the chest, roughly 1.5 inches, at 100 to 120 compressions per minute, and let the chest fully recoil.
  • Rescue breaths: Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth and give gentle puffs, just enough to make the chest rise. A single rescuer uses a 30:2 ratio of compressions to breaths.
  • Choking, conscious infant: Alternate five back blows with five chest thrusts. Never use abdominal thrusts on an infant, and never sweep the mouth blindly with a finger, which can push the object deeper.
  • Choking, infant becomes unresponsive: Your instructor will show the transition to CPR and how to check the mouth for a visible object.

Infant technique is not a gentler version of adult CPR. Hand position and depth are different, and that is exactly why hands-on practice matters.

Keep practicing until the movements feel automatic. Ask the instructor to watch your hand position specifically, and repeat any skill that felt awkward. You will know it worked when you can run the sequence without thinking about each step.

Step 7: Keep Your Skills Fresh After the Class

Skills fade without use, so build a maintenance habit right away.

If you received a card, put the expiration date on your calendar and set a reminder to book renewal about a month ahead. That gives you room to find a slot without letting the card lapse. Even if you took a non-card family course, pick a date roughly two years out to retake it.

Between classes, rehearse every few months. A manikin is ideal if you own one, but a rolled towel works for practicing hand position and rhythm, and a short video refresher from a reputable source can reinforce the sequence. Five minutes is enough.

Make your home ready for someone else to act. Post emergency numbers, your full home address, and a brief step reminder where sitters and relatives can see them, such as on the refrigerator. A caregiver who panics may forget the address, and the dispatcher will need it.

Finally, share what you learned with any caregiver who could not attend. A quick walkthrough is helpful, but it is not a substitute for training, so encourage them to take their own class and revisit your list from Step 1 until everyone on it is covered.

After the Class: Closing the Gaps in Your Family's Preparedness

Once your class is complete and your renewal date is on the calendar, check your list from Step 1 one more time. Every regular caregiver should be trained or have a class scheduled. If someone is still missing, book them in now rather than waiting for a convenient moment.

Then consider widening your preparation. First Aid training covers the injuries, burns, and sudden illnesses that come up far more often than cardiac emergencies, and AED training teaches you to use a defibrillator if one is nearby. Together with infant CPR, they give you a well-rounded foundation.

Don't wait until an emergency happens. Equip yourself and your family with life-saving skills today. Schedule your CPR certification class now and gain the confidence to respond when every second counts.