When a baby can't catch breath when crying?

[CloeDee]

Advice needed please we are first time parents!
Our baby girl is 4 months old and teething, I popped out to Asda tonight when my baby was sleeping and my partner was home, my partner called me completely freaking out asking me to come home ASAP as our baby had been in hysterics for 20 minutes, I could hear her through the phone she was actually screaming in pain, she couldn't catch her breath from crying that much, when I got home my partner was crying as this scared him, it scared me too!! I put all her teething stuff on and calmed her down, she is fine now but this is the first time she has done this, I'm just looking for some advice as to what's the best/right thing to actually do when baby's can't catch their breath due to crying

Sometimes gently blowing in their face can help. It’s awful when they do that you have my sympathies.

this might not be the recommended method and people may say I'm wrong but whenever my DD cries so hard she can't catch her breathe I just give a gentle blow in her mouth and it makes her gasp a bit and she gets her breathe back and kind of startles her so I can then calm her down, HV recommended that to me so could be worth a try xx

This is awful. Your baby must be really struggling with the teething stage. Have you tried Nelsons crystals? There’s something else like a liquid you can buy (can’t remember the name). Maybe try look at other methods of teething soothers.

@Readysetcake
Thanks for the advice, I'm hoping she dosnt get in that state again but if she does I will try this! xx

@Aimzxo
Thanks for the advice, yeah I will try this if it happens again! Horrible seeing them so upset like that xx

My daughter does this sometimes too I agree it's distressing. Distraction can work.

@Bananabread8
thanks for the advice, she is teething quite bad just now it's ashame for her, I have her on ashtons and parcens powder just now but I will pick up the crystals you said and give them a go, thanks very much xxx

This used to happen with both of my babies. I agree gently blowing on their face helps

My dd used to have breath holding attacks when she got really upset. If she was crying really hard and couldn't catch her breath, she would start to go blue in the face and pass out. The first time it happened, Iwas absolutely terrified, but she came round after a few seconds and was fine pretty soon after.
We had her thoroughly checked over and she was fine. Apparently it's not uncommon for this to happen when some babies cry very hard. Just wanted to warn you that this is a possibility if your child is struggling to catch their breath when they cry and it isn't anything scary!

My youngest tends to hold his breath if he's really upset (hurt himself etc.) I blow in his face and that makes him take a deep breath.

One of mine used to do this and his nose used to go blue, was terrifying. He carried on doing it when he was upset till he was about 3. I also blew in his face and it without fail stopped it.

My son would cry like this when he started teething (from 2-3 weeks) and still does. I found freezing breast milk, pureeing it, and then feeding him a sorbet out of it really helped. I used Teetha from the start and Calpol from 12 weeks.

Agree with PP about blowing gently in their face. It helps reset them

Also try anbesol liquid. It’s over the counter but I found this the best. It numbs the gum and when things were bad I gave some of that and ibuprofen

@Willow4987

Agree with PP about blowing gently in their face. It helps reset them

Also try anbesol liquid. It’s over the counter but I found this the best. It numbs the gum and when things were bad I gave some of that and ibuprofen

Glad someone named the liquid! I didn’t rate it for mine. But it’s worth a try for OP.

Another one to suggest a blow in the face. It's sounds cruel but mine was more of a short sharp (but obviously not too hard) blow in the face. Always followed by a distraction (smile, noise etc) I did it until they were quite old, one was always swinging/climbing on things so when they got hurt this helped.

Sounds a bit like this? www.nhs.uk/conditions/breath-holding-in-babies-and-children/ - if so there is advice there on the NHS website. My son used to pass out and go blue from it but I’m not sure if your little girl is holding her breath enough to do that.