What are pediatric AED pads?
Pediatric AED pads are smaller pads for infants and young children that tell the AED to deliver a lower-energy shock. Some AEDs get the same result with a key, a switch or a child cartridge instead of separate pads.
An adult AED shock is large: the AHA’s 2025 pediatric guidelines note that AEDs without attenuation deliver 120 to 360 joules, more than the recommended dose for a child under 25 kg (about 55 pounds). An attenuator cuts that energy down. On many AEDs it is built into the child pads themselves or their cable; ZOLL’s Pedi-padz II, for example, take the AED Plus from 120 to 200 joules down to 50 to 85 joules.
Manufacturers deliver the lower dose in four ways:
- Separate child pads: the ZOLL AED Plus, Philips HeartStart OnSite, Powerheart G5, Defibtech Lifeline and LIFEPAK 1000, among others.
- A child key: the Philips HeartStart FRx and FR3 take an Infant/Child Key that switches the AED to child mode with the regular pads.
- A child mode with the same pads: the ZOLL AED 3, the LIFEPAK CR2 and the Avive Connect have a child button or setting.
- A child cartridge: HeartSine’s Pediatric-Pak replaces the adult Pad-Pak.
The table further down lists every model in AED Log’s catalog, with the child part and its shelf life.
When to use pediatric pads instead of adult pads
Use pediatric pads, or the child setting, for infants and for children under 8. Most AED makers also give a weight limit, typically about 55 pounds (25 kg). From age 8 up, and for anyone showing signs of puberty, use adult pads.
The AHA’s 2025 guidelines recommend a pediatric attenuator for infants and children under 8. The American Red Cross puts the line at children 8 or younger, or 25 kg (about 55 pounds) or less, while its public AED steps treat children 8 or older who weigh more than 55 pounds as adults. AED makers use the same range: ZOLL, Philips, Defibtech and Avive say under 8 or under 55 pounds, Stryker says under 8 or under 25 kg for the LIFEPAK CR2, and HeartSine says ages 1 to 8 or up to 25 kg.
The AHA treats a child as anyone from about 1 year old to puberty, which it defines for teaching as breast development in girls and underarm hair in boys; anyone past that gets adult care. In an emergency you won’t know a child’s exact age or weight, and nobody expects you to. ZOLL’s manual says not to delay treatment to work it out. If the child looks small and young, use the child option; if not, use adult pads.
Shockable rhythms are less common in children than adults, because most childhood cardiac arrests start with a breathing problem. But when a child’s heart is in a shockable rhythm, the shock is the treatment that works, and the AHA reports that AEDs recognize those rhythms in children well.
Can you use adult AED pads on a child?
Yes, if there are no child pads and the AED has no child setting. The AHA says a standard adult AED may be used on infants and children, and the Red Cross says adult pads are fine as long as they don’t touch each other.
The reason is simple: a shock is the only effective treatment for a shockable rhythm, so an unattenuated shock can still save a child’s life. The AHA’s 2025 guidelines note that safe and effective use of adult-energy AEDs has been reported in infants and young children. FDA-approved labeling makes the same point; for example, the Philips HeartStart OnSite and Home labeling says to treat with adult pads if child pads aren’t available or you don’t know the child’s age or weight.
The rule doesn’t work the other way. Never use child pads, a child key or a child mode on an adult or a child 8 or older: the Red Cross warns the shock would be too weak to work.
On a small chest, adult pads may overlap. If they would touch, place them front and back instead, as described below.
Can you use an AED on an infant?
Yes. The AHA’s 2025 guidelines say to attach an AED to an infant in cardiac arrest as soon as possible, with pediatric pads or an attenuator if available, and the Red Cross says AEDs should be used on infants.
This is one of the bigger changes in 2025. The AHA’s earlier public guidance said a manual defibrillator, the kind paramedics and hospitals use, was preferred for infants under 1, with an attenuated AED next. The 2025 guidelines now list immediate AED use with a pediatric attenuator as a new or substantially revised recommendation. A manual defibrillator is still a reasonable choice for health care professionals who have one.
The evidence is thin, and both organizations say so. The international review the Red Cross relies on made no recommendation either way for infants because only 12 infant cases were available, and the Red Cross notes there is no evidence that using an AED on an infant causes harm. Its guidance is to use the AED, with pediatric pads if you have them and adult pads if you don’t.
Check your own AED’s manual too, because labeling varies. HeartSine, for example, says neither its adult Pad-Pak nor its Pediatric-Pak is for babies under 1 year old.
An AED is for an infant who doesn’t respond and isn’t breathing normally. Call 911 and start CPR; for an infant, the AHA says to push about 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep, a third of the depth of the chest. See how to use an AED for when to get the AED if you’re alone.
Pediatric AED pad placement
On an infant or small child, center one pad on the chest, then center the second pad on the back, so they don’t touch. On a larger child, the adult front-and-side position works if the pads stay apart.
Both the AHA and the Red Cross accept either position for children, but they lean differently. The AHA’s 2025 guidelines say front-and-back or front-and-side may be reasonable, using the largest pads that fit and keeping them at least 1 to 2 cm apart. The Red Cross keeps front-and-back as its recommendation for infants and children, and its public pages say to use it on every infant and on any child whose pads would touch in the front position.
Child pads always come with a picture of where they go, and the Red Cross’s 2025 guidelines say to follow the AED’s own diagram when you can. Keep the pads off breast tissue and the belly. Our full guide to AED pad placement shows each position step by step.
Pediatric pads, keys and child modes by AED model
Each AED model has its own child option, and the parts don’t swap between brands. Here is what each model in AED Log’s catalog uses, with the part number and shelf life the manufacturer publishes.
| AED | For children | Part number | Shelf life |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZOLL AED Plus | Pedi-padz II (2 years) | 8900-0810-01 | 2 years |
| ZOLL AED 3 | Child Mode with CPR Uni-padz, or Pedi-padz II (2 years) | 8900-0810-01 | 2 years |
| ZOLL AED Pro | Pedi-padz II (2 years) | 8900-0810-01 | 2 years |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | M5072A child cartridge (Rx only) | M5072A | Use-by date at least 2 years from manufacture |
| Philips HeartStart FRx | Infant/Child Key, same pads | 989803139311 | Not stated by Philips (no expiration date) |
| Philips HeartStart FR3 | Infant/Child Key, same pads | 989803150031 | Not stated by Philips (no expiration date) |
| Philips HeartStart FR2 and FR2+ | M3870A child pads | M3870A | Not stated by Philips |
| LIFEPAK CR2 | Child Mode, same pads | None needed | Same as the adult pads |
| LIFEPAK 1000 | Infant/Child electrodes (not stated) | 11101-000016 | Not stated by Stryker (at least 18 months left when shipped) |
| LIFEPAK CR Plus and EXPRESS | Infant/Child electrodes (not stated) | 11101-000016 | Not stated by Stryker (at least 18 months left when shipped) |
| LIFEPAK 500 | Infant/Child electrodes, biphasic only | 11101-000016 | Not stated by Stryker |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 | XELAED003 pediatric pads (24 months) | XELAED003 | 24 months |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G3 Plus | 9730 pediatric pads (shelf life not published) | 9730 | Not stated by ZOLL |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G3 Pro | 9730 pediatric pads (shelf life not published) | 9730 | Not stated by ZOLL |
| HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P, 360P and 450P | Pediatric-Pak (not stated) | PAD-PAK-02 | Not stated by Stryker or HeartSine |
| Defibtech Lifeline and Lifeline AUTO | DDP-200P pads (2.5 years) | DDP-200P | 2.5 years from manufacture |
| Defibtech Lifeline VIEW and ECG | DDP-2002 pads (2.5 years) | DDP-2002 | 2.5 years from manufacture |
| Avive Connect AED | Child button, same cartridge | None needed | Same as the adult pads |
Two things to check on your own AED. First, that the child option is there: child pads are often sold separately, and some older units need an upgrade before they accept them. ZOLL, for example, says an AED Plus without the adult-and-child symbol needs its Pediatric Upgrade Kit first. Second, where the child pads are kept: some manufacturers, such as ZOLL for the Powerheart G5, say to store them unplugged and connect them only for a child.
Each model page in our AED models section has the full details, including pad placement pictures to look for and what the child mode changes.
Pediatric pad expiration and storage
Pediatric pads expire like adult pads, and often sooner: ZOLL’s Pedi-padz II last 2 years against 5 for its adult pads. Keep them sealed, with the AED, and replace them by their own date.
Because they’re used so rarely, child pads are the part most likely to be found expired. They also tend to be bought separately from the AED, so their date doesn’t line up with the adult pads or the battery. Give them their own line on your AED inspection log, and check the seal and the date at every monthly inspection. Philips publishes no expiration date for its Infant/Child Keys, but a key still needs to be with the AED and easy to find. Don’t store it in the AED: Philips says a key left in place makes the next self-test fail.
Store child pads the way the manufacturer says, usually in the AED’s case or cabinet, at the same temperatures as the adult pads. Our guide to AED pad expiration covers how to read the date and what to do with expired pads.
Schools, child care centers and youth sports programs keep the most child pads, often across many sites. AED Log tracks every pad set, adult and child, with its own expiration date and warns the right person before it lapses.
Pediatric AED pads FAQ
What age are pediatric AED pads for?
Infants and children under 8. Most AED makers also give a weight limit of about 55 pounds (25 kg). From 8 up, or once a child shows signs of puberty, use adult pads.
Are adult AED pads safe to use on a child?
Yes, if there are no child pads and no child setting. The AHA says an adult AED may be used on a child, and the Red Cross says adult pads are fine if they don’t touch. A shock is better than no shock.
Can you use pediatric AED pads on an adult?
No. Child pads, keys and modes lower the shock energy, and the Red Cross warns the shock would be too weak for an adult. Use adult pads for anyone 8 or older.
Can you use an AED on a baby?
Yes. The AHA’s 2025 guidelines say to attach an AED to an infant in cardiac arrest as soon as possible, with child pads or an attenuator if available, and the Red Cross says AEDs should be used on infants.
Do pediatric AED pads expire?
Yes. Child pads have their own use-by date, often shorter than the adult pads’: ZOLL’s Pedi-padz II last 2 years against 5 for its adult pads. Track them separately and replace them by their date.