Why does my baby randomly hold her breath?

Breath-holding is when a baby or child stops breathing for up to 1 minute and may faint. It can happen when a child is frightened, upset, angry, or has a sudden shock or pain. It’s usually harmless but can be scary for parents, particularly when it happens for the first time.

What is pallid breath-holding?

Pallid breath-holding spells: In this type of breath-holding spell, often triggered by a sudden pain or fright, the child turns a pale, grayish color, becomes sweaty or clammy, and loses consciousness. The heart rate slows, and the child’s limbs sometimes twitch and the child may urinate on themselves.

Are breath-holding spells normal?

Also called breath-holding attacks, these spells are somewhat common and can happen in healthy children. They can look like seizures, but they’re not. The spells don’t hurt the children, and many outgrow them by age 6 or 7. They are most common in 2-year-olds.

Why does my baby stop breathing for a few seconds?

Some babies can take a pause in their breathing for up to 10 seconds or a few seconds longer. Their next few breaths may be fast and shallow. Then they breathe steadily again. This is called periodic breathing.

How do you deal with a breath-holding spell?

If your child has a breath-holding spell:

1. Lay your child in the crib or on the floor.
2. Keep your child away from anything hard or sharp.
3. Stay with your child.

What does sleep apnea sound like in babies?

High Inspiratory Squeaks. This type of sound from your child while sleeping is indicative of an increase in respiratory effort required because the upper airway is collapsed. When you hear these sounds in combination with snoring it is cause for concern and certainly worth investigating.

What does an infant having a seizure look like?

More pronounced signs may include the baby’s arms coming up with a slight head nod and their eyes rolling up. While this type of movement may look like the baby is just startled, spasms may occur for five to ten seconds in a cluster for several minutes when the baby first wakes up or is going to sleep.

How do you know when a baby is having a seizure?

What are the symptoms of a seizure in a child?

1. Staring.
2. Jerking movements of the arms and legs.
3. Stiffening of the body.
4. Loss of consciousness.
5. Breathing problems or stopping breathing.
6. Loss of bowel or bladder control.
7. Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness.

Can babies have absence seizures?

Absence seizures are a type of generalized seizure. They involve short periods of unresponsiveness, often many times a day. They usually begin in childhood, although they can occasionally begin in adulthood; they are very rare in infants. There are several different types of absence seizures.

How do I know if my child has absence seizures?

A child may have absence seizures for some time before an adult notices the seizures, because they’re so brief….Signs and symptoms of absence seizures include:

• Sudden stop in motion without falling.
• Lip smacking.
• Eyelid flutters.
• Chewing motions.
• Finger rubbing.
• Small movements of both hands.

Can breath-holding spells be fatal?

A breath holding spell is when a child holds their breath, usually after being angry, frustrated, startled, or in pain. Sometimes the breath holding leads to the child passing out. It can be frightening to watch a breath-holding spell, but they aren’t harmful and usually last less than a minute.