Pregnancy is full of preparation. You decorate the nursery, buy the car seat, wash tiny clothes, read the books, attend the scans, and argue about names. But one piece of preparation that many expectant parents in Manchester overlook is learning what to do if their baby chokes, stops breathing, or has a medical emergency.
Our Baby and Toddler First Aid course is designed for exactly this. Three hours, entirely practical, hands-on with infant manikins, and covering the emergencies that are most likely to happen in the first years of your child's life. And it is one of the best things you can do together as a couple before your baby arrives.
We are PCT Services, and we deliver our Baby and Toddler First Aid course from our training centre at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich, about a 40 minute drive from Manchester. At £42 per person, it costs less than most of the things you have already bought for the baby and lasts far longer than any of them.
Why doing it together matters
When an emergency happens with a baby, you need to act immediately. There is no time to google, no time to find the leaflet from the health visitor, and no time to talk each other through what to do. If both parents know the techniques, you can respond together. One starts first aid while the other calls 999. One manages the emergency while the other looks after older siblings. You share the knowledge, and you share the confidence.
Couples who attend together also tell us something else: it removes the anxiety of being the one who does not know. If only one parent has trained, the other feels helpless and reliant. If both have trained, neither has to carry that burden alone.
What you learn in three hours
The course covers the emergencies that every parent dreads but needs to be ready for.
Choking is the skill that brings most parents through the door. You learn the back blows, the chest thrusts, and the positioning for both infants and young children. You learn the difference between gagging and choking, and you practise until the technique is automatic. For parents who are about to start weaning, this is the session that transforms anxiety into confidence.
Infant CPR is the skill you hope you will never need but must be able to perform without hesitation. You learn how to check for breathing, how to give rescue breaths to a baby by covering both the nose and mouth, and how to do chest compressions with two fingers. You practise on manikins until the sequence is second nature.
Burns and scalds first aid covers the correct cooling technique, what to cover and what not to cover, and when to call for emergency help. With hot drinks being one of the most common causes of burns in babies and toddlers, this is directly relevant from the moment you bring your baby home.
Febrile convulsions are the seizures triggered by a rapid rise in temperature. They are terrifying to witness if you have never seen one, and understanding what is happening and how to keep your child safe transforms panic into calm action.
You also cover allergic reactions, meningitis recognition, bleeding, and head injuries.
The best time to book
The third trimester is ideal. You are past the busiest phase of preparation, you are mentally focused on the baby's arrival, and you have a few weeks to let the skills settle before they might be needed. Many Manchester couples book the course alongside their antenatal classes, treating it as part of the same preparation.
If your baby has already arrived, book now. The course is only three hours, so you just need someone to look after the little one for a morning or afternoon. Many parents book when weaning starts, which is when choking anxiety peaks.
Not just for parents
Grandparents are especially welcome, and we see more and more Manchester grandparents attending. If your parents or in-laws will be looking after your baby, they need current skills. The advice has changed significantly since they had babies of their own, and a three hour refresher gives them the updated techniques and the confidence to look after your child safely.
Aunts, uncles, godparents, and regular babysitters also benefit. Anyone who spends time alone with your baby should know what to do in an emergency.
Getting to our training centre
Our centre at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich is about a 40 minute drive from central Manchester. Head out on the M56 towards Chester, then follow signs for Northwich. There is parking available nearby, and the centre is in the town centre.
For a Saturday morning course, you could leave Manchester after breakfast, complete the course by lunchtime, and be home for the afternoon. It is a small investment of time for skills that last.
The details
Three hours, £42 per person, certificate valid for one year. Small groups of up to 12 people. Entirely practical and hands-on. No previous experience needed.
We run scheduled courses throughout the year including weekends, which works well for working couples. Check the live dates on our Baby and Toddler First Aid page and book your places.
For Manchester NCT groups, antenatal groups, or groups of friends who are all expecting, give us a call on 07958 915146 and we can arrange a dedicated session for your group.
Baby & Toddler First Aid
Gain confidence to handle emergencies with your baby or toddler. Learn essential first aid skills from a trainer who is a Registered Nurse with many years of clinical experience within Emergency Departments who trains Advanced Paediatric Life Support to medical and nursing staff in acute hospital environments.
Northwich Training Centre, Northwich
Fully booked · 3 dates available
The best preparation you can do
You will spend hundreds of pounds on things your baby will grow out of in weeks. You will spend hours researching pushchairs and reading reviews of products that barely matter. Spend three hours and £42 each learning the skills that could save your baby's life. Check the dates and book your places together.
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