Question:
> We have a 13 month old daughter who has been holding her breath since she > was 4 months old. The typical scenario is that she is tired, and either > hurts herself or doesn’t want a diaper change etc… She cries out and > doesn’t take her next breath- she turns blue and either passes out or has > seizure like activity (eyes roll back in head and her body shakes). This > can happen up to 2 times per day. She has been to numerous doctors (ENT, > neurology, cardiologist, & general pediatricians) and they all say that > this is "normal, some kids do this and grow out of this by the age of 2 to > 3". Anyone have this problem, and have suggestions on how to deal with > this? Yes, this is probably behavioral but we can’t seem to stop her from
My sister did this also. For her it was how she displayed her anger, she would get mad and hold her breath. My mom never knew what to do, one time on the spur of the momement when my sister was holding her breath, mom ran her over to the sink and dunked her head under cold water, she never did it again. It may not cure your child but it might help her to take a breath before she turns blue. Patty
Response:
We have a 13 month old daughter who has been holding her breath since she was 4 months old. The typical scenario is that she is tired, and either hurts herself or doesn’t want a diaper change etc… She cries out and doesn’t take her next breath- she turns blue and either passes out or has seizure like activity (eyes roll back in head and her body shakes). This can happen up to 2 times per day. She has been to numerous doctors (ENT, neurology, cardiologist, & general pediatricians) and they all say that this is "normal, some kids do this and grow out of this by the age of 2 to 3". Anyone have this problem, and have suggestions on how to deal with this? Yes, this is probably behavioral but we can’t seem to stop her from
Response:
> We have a 13 month old daughter who has been holding her breath since she > was 4 months old.
I use to do this as a kid. The doctors told my parents the same thing the doctors are telling you, which is that I would outgrow it, and I did. Mine wasn’t a behavioral problem (which yours probably isn’t either). I just couldn’t keep breathing if I laughed or cried. Unfortunately for my parents, they had a heck of a time getting anyone to babysit me because I scared the to death (which I’m sure is what your daughter is doing to you. Just make sure you don’t leave her alone in baths, swimming pools, near water puddles, buckets of water, etc. You wouldn’t want her passing out in water of any kind. Good luck, — Sandy Gookin author, Parenting For Dummies http://www.iea.com/~dgookin
Response:
I really have a hard time believing that breath-holding would be a behavioral problem (rather than a medical problem) in a child that young. l.f.
Response:
Yes! Our baby son (age 15 months) does the same thing, only when he cries very hard (which is not often). My response to this (having had it happen with my older daughter also), is to hold him close and protect him from falling as he usually passes out also and takes a while to come back to himself. Our pediatrician has reassured us that this is something that some children do and grow out of a lso. Since our older daughter (now 17) did this also, and DID in fact grow out of it, I am reassured. Good luck! I know it is frightening and upsetting to baby too.
Response:
> > We have a 13 month old daughter who has been holding her breath since she > was 4 months old. The typical scenario is that she is tired, and either > hurts herself or doesn’t want a diaper change etc… She cries out and > doesn’t take her next breath- she turns blue and either passes out or has > seizure like activity (eyes roll back in head and her body shakes). This > can happen up to 2 times per day. She has been to numerous doctors (ENT, > neurology, cardiologist, & general pediatricians) and they all say that > this is "normal, some kids do this and grow out of this by the age of 2 to > 3". Anyone have this problem, and have suggestions on how to deal with > this? Yes, this is probably behavioral but we can’t seem to stop her from
Sounds like your daughter is not actually trying to hold her breath, but simply cannot inhale after she’s had a scream. This trick works for some people – blow a good stiff breath in her face. Not mouth-to-mouth, but just like a sudden blast of air across her eyes, nose and mouth. This will generally result in an involuntary intake of breath in most infants and young kids, even adults. She’ll gasp in a breath, then likely go back to normal breathing. Hope this helps… Good Luck with the Parenting thing. . . Greg Lubianetzky Father to Teri, 7 years and Tom, 10 months
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