“I’m wondering would you be able to provide some advice on breath-holding please? My 11 month old has started to do this in the last few weeks. It’s when she is crying/upset over something. After a few seconds she is fine but it’s worrying at the time as she nearly seems to become limp in my arms until she catches her breath. She doesn’t actually pass out and is fine after it but she seems pale when it happens. I have made appointment with GP to have it investigated but in meantime is there any advice you have?”
You’ve booked in with your GP, so I don’t think you are looking for advice as much as reassurance here. Let’s see if we can give you some.
Just to say from the outset, that while this is common, these spells should always be looked into by your GP, who usually will recommend referral to a paediatrician. There are a few rare things that should be considered. However, for the vast majority of these children, usually between 6 and 18 months of age, there is nothing found to be wrong.
These episodes are very scary! It usually happens that the child becomes upset, stops breathing, turns blue (or very white), may or may not have some limb jerking, and then, within moments, wakes up just fine. Your child can’t control these, and if everything is normal with the paediatrician ( and it usually is) will out grow this.
Scientific-minded mammies might enjoy this short paper on the subject: Can Fam Physician. 2015 Feb; 61(2): 149–150.
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