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can a child cry so hard that they go unconscious momentarily???

7 replies

specialk1215 · 09/11/2007 20:27

We had a bit of a scare last night. My 12-month old son was playing beside me while I was trying to get my two-year old into her pyjamas. All of a sudden, I looked beside me and my son was in mid-wail... you know the kind of wail where their mouths are wide open and there is just silence, and you just have to wait for them to catch their breath so that they can start to scream? I have no idea what caused him to start crying... but as he was there with his mouth open about to scream, he tripped and fell over, making him even more angry. At this point, he was still trying to catch his breath to start wailing... and he had started turning purple as he hadn't had a breath yet. He finally got his breath and let out one huuuugggeee scream, and then his eyes basically rolled back in his head and he went limp in my husbands arms.

After about three seconds, he perked up, and within a minute or so, he was walking around as if nothing had ever happened. We were just stunned! Can a child get so upset and go so long without a breath that they actually pass out for a moment?

I have never heard of this, but it really seems that this is what happened. I thought he may have been choking on something, but there was no indication that anything was wrong with him and he is perfectly fine again.

Have any of you experienced this before? It was terrifying!

Thanks lovely mums!

OP posts:
LadyOfTheFlowers · 09/11/2007 20:29

I think it is normal.
But yes, very horrible to see.

anneme · 09/11/2007 20:30

YES! DS1 did this a couple of times - got so angry that he conked out momentarily. If he does it again then blow in his face - it shocks them into breathing. Of course if you are at all worried then make an appt with dr to check.

geekgirl · 09/11/2007 20:31

yes! my dd2 did this once - completely freaked me out and I was screaming for dh to call an ambulance. Dd1 had fallen onto her IIRC.
She screamed and then passed out and went limp for a few seconds. I mentioned it to her paediatrician who said that it is quite common.

Hope that gives you some reassurance.

cazboldy · 09/11/2007 20:32

my bil used to do this as a toddler (according to my mil) he used to hold his breath until he passed out. they do grow out of it apparantly.......however she seems to think that it's ok to let a baby/child scream - "it won't do them any harm!"

specialk1215 · 10/11/2007 09:41

Thank you all. It helps to know that this has happened to others as well. I never realized that this could happen!

OP posts:
oops · 10/11/2007 09:44

Message withdrawn

totaleclipse · 10/11/2007 09:47

Yes, this happened to dt2 after hitting her head, very very scary, she was making no sound, mouth wide open, then she sighed and passed out.

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