For an infant, where is the correct hand position for chest compressions?

• A. One finger-width below an imaginary line between the nipples
• B. Two fingers above the nipple line
• C. In the center of the chest at the nipple line
• D. One palm-width below the clavicle

Answer: (A)

For infant chest compressions, you want to press on the center of the chest, on the lower half of the sternum, just below the line between the nipples. This location places the heart in the path of the compressions and helps push blood forward with each press, while minimizing risk to the ribs and organs. Saying it as about one finger-width below the nipple line gives a practical cue that matches the goal of staying in the lower half of the sternum. If you compress too high, above the nipple line, or too far down near the clavicle, the heart isn’t compressed as effectively and injury risk rises. In practice, use two fingers on the center of the chest (or two-thumb technique if two rescuers) and compress about one third of the chest depth at a rate of 100–120 per minute.