Mother’s Quick Action Saves Choking Infant

A swift response by a mother in upstate New York may have prevented a tragedy. Casey Clute woke in the night to hear her baby daughter struggling to breathe. Her 4-month-old daughter, Madilyn, was found choking after spitting up during sleep.

Casey, age 34, shared that the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. She described how she wasn’t sure at first if the noise was due to her baby or just her mind creating it due to worry. With her husband, Joshua, at work, Casey didn’t hesitate. The couple also parents their 3-year-old child, Charlotte.

Her instinct urged her to act. Casey opened her eyes and noticed Madilyn gasping for air. Footage, which she later posted on TikTok (@mama_casey02), recorded the moment as she quickly grabbed Madilyn to help.

Fortunately, Casey had received CPR training. She immediately responded by positioning Madilyn face down on her chest and patting her back. This helped expel the spit-up. Casey wrote how her maternal instincts faced a test during this ordeal.

After Madilyn was breathing normally again, Casey checked the sleep area. She discovered her toddler had thrown two stuffed animals into the crib. Casey removed them since soft objects pose a danger to young infants.

A 2019 study published in Pediatrics examined infant suffocation cases reported to the U.S. Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Case Registry. It found soft bedding as the most common mechanism, responsible for 69% of studied suffocation cases. Researchers suggested safer sleep environments could reduce these incidents.

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises placing babies on their backs for every sleep on a firm, flat, non-inclined surface. They also recommend keeping the sleep area free of pillows, blankets, and soft items to prevent airway obstruction.

Though the immediate risk had passed, fear lingered for Casey afterward. She was grateful she was alert enough to act quickly. This experience influenced the couple’s future plans. Casey had planned to move Madilyn into her room or share Charlotte’s room as her maternity leave was ending.

Given this incident, Casey has chosen to keep Madilyn in their bedroom. She believes that if Madilyn had been in another room during the event, the situation could have been deadly. This decision reflects Casey’s belief in staying extremely cautious.

Contact Newsweek editors Charlotte Nisbet and Emma Lee-Sang.