First Aid for Children and Babies: Courses, Content and How It Differs from the Nothelferkurs
The Nothelferkurs qualifies you for a learner permit and has the roadside in mind. A course for parents has the home in mind — and works with techniques that look different on small bodies. This page explains the difference and what a good course covers.
In short
A first-aid course for babies and toddlers is not a Nothelferkurs. The Nothelferkurs is a legal prerequisite for the learner permit under Art. 10 VZV and is oriented towards road accidents. A paediatric course deals with the emergencies that happen at home — swallowed objects, unconsciousness, febrile seizures, burns — and practises the techniques on infant and child manikins.
Explained in the video
Nothelferkurs or paediatric first-aid course?
The two are often confused because both are called «first aid». They serve different purposes — and one does not replace the other.
| Nothelferkurs | Course for babies and toddlers | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Legal prerequisite for the learner permit (Art. 10 VZV) | Voluntary; for parents, grandparents, godparents, childcare staff |
| Focus | Securing the scene, raising the alarm, maintaining vital functions | Everyday emergencies with small children |
| Practised on | Adult manikin | Infant and toddler manikins |
| Recognition | Must come from a body recognised by ASTRA | No federal recognition required |
| Validity | No more than six years old when you apply | No statutory period; refreshing is recommended |
If you need the course for your driving licence, our first-aid course overview is the right starting point. Attending both makes sense, but they are not the same thing.
What a good course covers
- Foreign objects in the airway — the classic case with a grape, a nut or a small toy part
- Unconsciousness: recognising it, checking breathing, recovery position, resuscitation in children
- Febrile seizures — what to do and, explicitly, what not to do
- Burns and scalds from the hob, the oven or a kettle
- Falls, head injuries and when medical assessment is needed
- Poisoning from cleaning products, medicines or plants
- Allergic reactions and insect stings
Why the techniques differ for children
An infant is not a small adult. The chest is softer, the airway narrower, and the head is considerably larger and heavier in proportion to the body. That changes almost everything: the force used for compressions, the position of the hands, the head position when clearing the airway, the approach to a foreign object.
This is exactly why reading does not work here. This page can show you which situations a course covers and what to look for when choosing one — but the techniques themselves belong on a manikin under supervision, not in a text. People who have done it once hesitate for less time when it matters.
If you want to go deeper on adults, the BLS-AED course is the next step: basic life support including a defibrillator. And how agonal breathing differs from normal breathing — one of the most common misjudgements of all — is explained under recognising agonal breathing.
Where to find such a course
Paediatric first-aid courses are widely offered in Switzerland: by the cantonal branches of the Swiss Red Cross, by Samariter associations, by children's hospitals and by private rescue schools. Courses typically run for half a day to a full day, and many providers will also run them as a private course for a closed group — practical if several families join forces.
What is worth looking for: that you practise on infant and toddler manikins and not only on an adult one, that there is enough time for hands-on practice rather than just a lecture, and that the course also covers raising the alarm and the period until the ambulance arrives.
DriveLab arranges Nothelfer and BLS-AED courses through partners; purely paediatric courses are not part of our offering. We would rather say that plainly than sell you a course we do not run. What we do offer is at first-aid courses and BLS-AED.
Frequently asked questions
Is a paediatric first-aid course the same as the Nothelferkurs?
No. The Nothelferkurs is a legal prerequisite for the learner permit under Art. 10 VZV and is oriented towards road accidents. A paediatric course is voluntary and deals with everyday emergencies involving babies and toddlers. Neither replaces the other.
Does a paediatric course count towards the learner permit?
Only if it is run as a Nothelferkurs by a body recognised by ASTRA. A purely paediatric course generally does not satisfy the requirement in Art. 10 VZV. If in doubt, ask the provider directly about ASTRA recognition.
When is the course worth taking?
Many parents attend during pregnancy or in the first year. It makes sense for as long as small children are in the household — and equally for grandparents, godparents and carers who are regularly alone with the child.
How long does such a course remain valid?
There is no statutory period, because the course is not an official requirement. Providers typically recommend refreshing every two to three years — techniques you never use fade quickly.
Which emergency number applies for a child?
The ambulance number 144 applies nationwide. If poisoning is suspected, 145 from Tox Info Suisse is the right number — the specialists there can assess the substance and the quantity. 112 works across Europe and is forwarded.
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Sources: VZV (SR 741.51), Art. 10 — Stand 01.01.2026 · Cantonal fees from the cantons' fee ordinances, last checked in July 2026. This page is not legal advice; the applicable ordinance text always prevails.