16 wk old holding breath & easily startled

[nauseous]

1. any ideas why he's holding his breath- could something be wrong or is this ... normal?
   
   
2. he's also startling even if I sneeze, or with any slightly loud or high pitched noise..
   
   am i worrying about nothing??

[laurajess]

hey. i read in a book somewhere that the breathing is just where baby's brain messages just haven't matured as well as they have and that it is quite normal. and it isn't him holding his breath so much as him forgetting to breathe.
and my little one still startles when i sneeze. if she's sleepy and someone sneezes or laughs loudly she starts crying which is so frustrating.
hope this helps
xxxx

[nauseous]

that helps thanks laurajess

[pushmepullyou]

Can't help with the breathing thing, but my DD was very easily startled until around 5/6 months, even a door shutting could bring her to hysterical tears. I was quite worried (PFB) at the time, but she has settled down a lot in the last couple of months.

Although she's still terrified of parrots

[diedandgonetodevon]

DS was always "forgetting" to breathe and it's only recently that I've noticed that he's finally grown out of it (he's 10mo).

I think he also still used to startle at sneezes and other unexpected noises at that age. I can only assume it's because they don't get any warning that it's coming- heck, even I startle if someone sneezes loudly without warning