when a baby holds there breath what is the best thing to do?

Question

my grand daughter does this till she turns blue what can my daughter do when she is doing this and how can it be prevented .

Answer 1

Depends on the age of the child... If it is an infant, blowing air into their face usually gets them to react by breathing. If the child is a toddler who is doing this for attention, it is attention seeking behavior that you need to train to stop. First, your daughter must realize that if worse comes to worst, her daughter will eventually pass out. This is actually good... her autonomous system will take over and automatically start her breathing again for her. So, she will start breathing again on her own. It can be scary when children hold their breath like this, but eventually they will pass out, and when they do, they'll start breathing again. Toddlers and young children often do this for attention when they are throwing a tantrum. Why? It works. The parent starts freaking out that the child is not breathing, giving the child more attention to the behavior. What your daughter needs to do (even though it will be hard) is to eliminate giving attention to the behavior. When the child starts holding their breath for attention, the mom should remove herself from the child's view and ignore the behavior. As I said, the worst that will happen is that the child will pass out and start breathing again on their own. Find common "triggers" to the behavior: is it when the child wants something and throws a fit to get it, or when mom is paying attention to another child? Either way, the behavior is something that needs to be eliminated. Try to have your daughter anticipate what may cause the behavior, and then try to "get in front" of it by heading off possible conflicts before it escalates into a tantrum. By ignoring the behavior when it happens, not reacting in any way to the behavior, and not giving in when the behavior happens in order to stop the behavior, mom can help train her daughter that this behavior will not produce rewards.

Answer 2

Stick your fingers in cold water and flick it at her face. The normal reaction is to gasp for breath. She will learn not to do that real fast! It is not hurting her in anyway. Try it and see what happens- My Aunt's son did the same only he was 3 and would hold his breath until he passed out when he didn't get his way. A glass of cold water in the face worked and he never did it again! hahaha!

Answer 3

The pediatrician said to let them. They pass out and instantly start breathing again. It doesn't hurt them in anyway, shape or form. It's an attention getter. You simply let them pass out and don't pay any attention to them. When they wake up they will see that you didn't get flustered. Eventually they stop doing it cause you are not panicing which is what they want you to do. Of course then they will find other ways to get your attention. But at least this one will be out of the way. I know it sounds cruel but it works.

Answer 4

The best answer I ever got was to ignore them, they are usually seeking attention. If you ignore them the worst thing that could happen is that they pass out and their body will automatically start breathing again. If you guys are really concerned then talk to the childs dr. they can give you advice.

Answer 5

Intentionally or periodically?

Babies can't harm themselves by holding their breath but if they are doing it in times of rage it implies a problem with the way the child is being handled at that point in time.

Consult a pediatrician.

Answer 6

A health teacher once told the class that the best thing to do is to ignore them. They'll eventually pass out, and start breathing again. And, they'll realize that it doesn't get attention and eventually stop doing it.

Answer 7

I used to watch a boy who did this he was about 2 and his doctor said it was ok because he would pass out and then resume breathing and not to panic

Answer 8

Hold up the babys left arm and kindly shake its arm not the body.
I know how scary that is when a baby gets stringled and holds their breath.

Answer 9

we had a foster baby that did that the doctor told us to put her in the playpen or crib and leave her, as hard as this is,we did it and once she realized she wouldn't get her attention she stopped doing it, her real parents would blow in her face to make her take a breath.

Answer 10

depends on when she does it. if its to get her own way try to distract her. my daughter does the same instead of letting her churn blue, we distract her with a toy. I was told to do the distractiong thing.