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The boy, who is being treated at Children's Hospital Oakland, "is responsive and has a much better prognosis," Scott said. His name has not been released.
The father, 47-year-old Bashir Haidar, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, according to Scott.
The case has been turned over to the Alameda County District Attorney's office.
Scott said Haidar will likely be arraigned today or Wednesday.
Police received a 911 call at 11:42 a.m. Monday from someone who reported that a boy in a house at 1148 Regent St. was having trouble breathing, Scott said.
He said the caller turned out to be the boy's father, Haidar, who was calling from a neighbor's home.
Scott said that on Monday morning, Haidar "gave us an admission that he tried to kill his son twice."
When police asked Haidar why he had done so, he "blamed the economy and said he had too many tickets," Scott said.
According to Scott, the first time Haidar choked his son he stopped after his son said, "Daddy I can't breathe."
Scott said Haidar choked his son a second time less than an hour later but stopped again when his son bit his tongue and started foaming at the mouth.
Scott said Haidar told police that he also planned to kill his wife, who wasn't at home at the time the boy allegedly was choked.
"He got his plans mixed up and it didn't work out," Scott said.
Scott said Alameda police have had several prior contacts with Haidar in incidents in which Haidar "wasn't stable."
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