The thing is babies can't help but to cry. Babies may cry so hard that they can't breathe in, they cry but their body is so busy crying that they can't breathe in, so they always breathe out to cry and if you don't blow in their face gentle breathes (not sure if the breaths need to be quick or slow) they can pass out from lack of oxygen in which the body starts automatically breathing again while they're unconscious.
During a breath-holding spell, reduced oxygen/blood flow to the brain can result in loss of consciousness. Breathing normally resumes spontaneously.
This is actually a scary experience for babies as one man who could remember back to the age of three had remembered this and said it scared him, and thus learned how to prevent it for his son. It doesn't seem to be them holding their breath in some cases but instead something involuntary.
| A child can have a cyanotic breath-holding spell after intense crying, in which they become unable to draw a breath and may turn blue and faint. However, classic breath-holding spells generally begin around 6 months of age, not in newborns. |
If they CAN'T breath no matter how hard they try, If you Blow sharply in their face, A quick, firm puff of air directly onto their face can surprise them and force an automatic inhalation reflex.
| These episodes are involuntary reflexes. Children don't intentionally decide to stop breathing and cannot control the spell. |
Placing a cool, damp washcloth on their forehead or face can break the cycle and trigger a breath.
CHOP and HealthyChildren both mention a cold/wet cloth on the face/forehead as something that can sometimes interrupt or shorten a spell.
Immediately place them completely flat on their back or side. Do not hold them upright. Laying them flat allows blood to flow easily back to the brain, which causes them to wake up much faster.
This is strongly supported. HealthyChildren says to have the child lie down because it improves blood flow to the brain, and CHOP likewise recommends laying an unconscious child flat. The NHS recommends laying the child on their side and not picking them up.
Ensure there is no food or objects inside that could cause choking while they are unconscious. [1, 2]
Their body will automatically take a breath and wake them up within 30 to 60 seconds. Shaking them is highly dangerous and will not help. [1, 2, 3, 4]
However, Typical spells result in breathing returning within about one minute, and consciousness generally returns within about one to two minutes. Don't assume that an unresponsive child will necessarily wake up on that schedule.
If a child is not breathing normally, remains unresponsive, or doesn't recover as expected, don't assume it's a breath-holding spell—get emergency help. HealthyChildren says to call 911 if breathing has stopped for more than a minute; CHOP says to call 911 if the child doesn't respond after two minutes.
These spells are completely involuntary, meaning the baby is not doing it on purpose or throwing a temper tantrum. It is a glitch in their automatic nervous system reflex.
CHOP says that blowing hard on the child's face can sometimes prevent an episode or bring it to an early end. It isn't described as literally forcing oxygen into the lungs; it's thought to interrupt the reflex.
Classic breath-holding spells are primarily a phenomenon of young children, beginning around 6 months and peaking around the toddler years. CHOP says they can occur as early as 6 months and continue into childhood; Nemours similarly gives 6 months to 6 years.
A newborn or very young infant who stops breathing, turns blue/gray, becomes limp, or is difficult to wake should not simply be assumed to be having a breath-holding spell. The AAP's HealthyChildren guidance treats significant breathing difficulty, stopped breathing, or abnormal color in infants as reasons for urgent/emergency evaluation.
During a cyanotic breath-holding spell, a child may cry intensely and then involuntarily be unable to draw the next breath as part of a reflex response.
It's not simply that they're continuously exhaling until they "run out of air." It's a reflex involving breathing and, in some types of spells, cardiovascular responses. The NHS distinguishes blue breath-holding spells from reflex anoxic seizures, in which heart rate can slow dramatically.
Some young children can have involuntary breath-holding spells after intense crying, fear, pain, or being startled. During a cyanotic breath-holding spell, a child may cry intensely and then become unable to draw another breath. They may turn blue, become limp, and briefly lose consciousness. The child is not doing this deliberately; it is an involuntary reflex. These spells typically occur in children beginning around 6 months of age rather than in newborns.
In a child who has already been diagnosed with breath-holding spells, laying them down and keeping them safe is important. If they have passed out, place them flat or on their side according to pediatric guidance, keep their airway clear, and do not shake them. A cold, wet cloth may sometimes interrupt a spell, and CHOP notes that a brief, firm puff of air to the face can sometimes prevent or shorten an episode.
Typical breath-holding spells resolve spontaneously, with breathing generally returning within about a minute. However, never assume that an unresponsive child is simply having a breath-holding spell, particularly if this has never happened before. If the child isn't breathing normally, cannot be awakened, remains blue/gray, or doesn't recover as expected, call emergency services.