Red Cross Babysitting Practice Exam 2025 - Free Babysitting Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

Positioning an infant correctly when administering back blows is crucial for the procedure to be effective and safe. Holding the infant along your forearm, with their head positioned below their shoulders, is the proper technique. This positioning allows gravity to assist in dislodging any obstruction in the airway while ensuring that the infant is well supported.

By having the head lower than the body, any force from the back blows will help to dislodge an object more effectively. Additionally, this method helps prevent the risk of the infant inhaling any vomit or debris should they expel anything during the procedure, reducing the chance of further choking.

The other methods of positioning are not suitable for providing back blows to an infant. For instance, tilting the head back, lying flat on their back, or sitting in a high chair does not enable effective clearance of the airway and may increase the risk of choking instead of alleviating it.