holding breath when crying

[buttercup]

My 11 month old ds has just started doing a very frightening thing. When we change his nappy he gets himself so upset and worked up that he does that breath-holding cry and goes blue. Today he held his breath for so long that he actually appeared to pass out for a couple of seconds. Afterwards he was exhausted and really phased out for about half an hour afterwards. I dont know what to do. Nappy changing has always been a palaver and we have tried everthing to make it easier for him - distractions, doing it standing up etc. He is okay til we wipe him which just seems to drive him into a frenzy. Does anyone else have experience of this or of things which make their baby do that awful silent crying/breath holding thing (and actually pass out!).

Do you wipe him with a cold babywipe? If so would he object less to warm water? Be reassured lots of babies do this and it will pass.

Hi buttercup, I am a mum of a 19 mo old who has been doing this since about 14 or 15mos. My ds usually will do this when he is upset from something He does not do this all the time though. Sometimes hell start to cry and just hold his breathe and not let it out. He will actually fall to the ground and turn blue. Hes done this many times and twice almost past out literally. The first time we almost called 911 because I thought he was choking on something. My mum said I used to do the same thing when I was young. She told me she used to spray some cold water in my face to snap me out of it. She said I did pass out a few times on the floor. I talked to the doctor and he said this is a normal thing for come children and that they will outgrow it. It is an anger thing. He told me to just not do nothing and my ds would snap out of it eventually during an episode especially when he doesnt take in any air after a little bit. I keep a small spray bottle around to use because it helped me a couple times when I thought he was going unconcious. Its pretty scary sometimes. Good Luck. Dont worry i was told several times many parents deal with this and its not too uncommon. You may just not hear of it too much.

buttercup, my husband used to hold his breathe and make himself turn blue when he was very young. As you say it was an anger/ attention thing. I will ask MIL how she coped.

Anyway, just to reassure you, he certainly has outgrown it, and no harm was done

spelling! - breath.

Both of my sons have held their breath. My eldest son now aged 6 years started holding his breath when he was about 10 months old. I was very frightened when he first started doing this, he would turn blue and pass out for a few seconds and almost always fall asleep afterwards. There is a reflex in babies that causes them to take a sharp intake of breath if you blow in there face. My son stopped doing this at about the age of 3 years. My youngest son aged 17 months is breath holding and started at the same age as the eldest. The other day he held his breath and fell over and bumped his head against the bannister, he had a little bump come up on his head. Both of my children are very placid and don't cry very often it's almost as though it's an early attempt of having a temper tantrum.

We have terrible nappy changing traumas with ds 12mo. I havent yet found the solution although he is slightly better if I ask him to hold the bottle of cream and let him get the wet wipes out for me (although I do end up with about 20 at a time!). Luckily ds has only done the breathholding once, but I was panic stricken. The nursery staff said its very common and told me to blow in his face, like Glitterbabe suggested.

My ds (20m) only does this when he is very shocked or frightened by something, but I think the best way to react is by not reacting. If they see that breathe-holding gets you excited in any way, then they are more likely to do it deliberately. I always hold him and talk quietly to him when it happens, and when he's come out of it I give him a cuddle. He does it less and less now.

Buttercup, could it be that the wipes sting and that's why he gets upset? I tried wipes out on my own bottom, just to see what they feel like, and sometimes they do sting a lot. Perhaps you could try using cotton wool and warm water?

he's only done it once more in the last week but often seems to come close to it. Its comforting to know that it passes, hope before not too long. I have tried cotton wool in warm water but it doesnt seem to make any difference. I am now letting him round around while I desperately shuffle around on all fours trying to wipe him and get a new nappy on. Its stressful as hell and takes ages but anything to avoid him holding getting worked up into a total frenzy.

Buttercup, it must be very scary for you but I agree with wmf, it's best to try to ignore it or it can turn into a big attention seeking thing later, obviously not at this age so much but a toddler may try to use it as a weapon! It's important not to give in to a tantrum just because you are worried they will do this breath holding thing. At this age distraction is probably your best bet... If the frenzy always starts with the wiping maybe try changing the cloth/method you use as wmf suggests?

Breath-holding isn't harmful or dangerous, and they do grow out of it...it's an anger thing as someone suggested. The passing out isn't harmful to your child, even though it is distressing to you seeing it; it's actually the body's protective response, to allow him to breath normally again. HTH!

mollipops - thanks it does help to know its not dangerous. Next time - hopefully there wont be one - I'll be able to deal with it more calmly. And remember to blow in his face as others have suggested.

in the last week the problem seems to have got much worse. I took him the doctor to reassure myself but he said it wasn't uncommon and not dangerous either. But today he's held his breathe and fainted about six times, almost everytime he got upset infact. The problem is that he's just getting to the age when he's extremely mischievous which means I'm having to begin to say no. Its really difficult when it results in him passing out! I'm feeling rather desperate - has anyone else experienced this so frequently?

Buttercup I would say breath holding may tend to get worse as the child gets a little older. Like around the time you start saying no or do more correcting. As youhave said. I used to do it all the time when I was young. I beleive it was closer to 3 yrs. Mt ds 19 mo does it sometimes although i would say about 2 times a week. Hes only had a couple passing out situations I beleive. But holds his breath till it looks like hes dead. Turning blue. He should outgrow it.

buttercup - don't know if this helps as we haven't had this with dd yet, but my mum says that when I used to hold my breath as a baby/toddler she used to rub my legs. Anything tha tshocked me made it worse.