Breath-Holding Spells in Children — What to Do When Your Child Stops Breathing While Crying

Dr. Sandip Gupta

Some children, when they cry because of anger, frustration, pain or tantrums, stop breathing and sometimes become unconscious, and parents become frightened. This video explains what to do at home. First, don't panic. Breath-holding spells, although they may look serious, are not harmful. Generally these children wake up within 1 to 2 minutes and start breathing normally. What to do: Lay the child flat on the ground or on the bed. This helps increase the blood flow to the brain, which helps in waking the child. Sprinkle a little water on the child's face — this also helps in waking the child up. Turn the child on one side so that the child does not aspirate their secretions. Stay with the child until they wake up, and cuddle the baby. Afterwards: Consult your pediatrician to find out whether it is actually a breath-holding spell. Discuss with them whether you should start iron therapy, because sometimes iron deficiency can cause breath-holding spells. Relevant for: parents whose child stops breathing, turns blue or becomes unconscious while crying; parents dealing with tantrums, anger or frustration that end in a breath-holding episode; parents asking whether breath-holding spells are dangerous and how long they last; parents wanting to know the correct position to place the child in during an episode; and parents asking about the link between iron deficiency and breath-holding spells. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please consult your pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis and before starting any iron therapy, and seek immediate medical attention if your child does not wake up quickly, has jerking movements, injures themselves, or if the episodes are frequent or changing in pattern.