RP: DS cried so hard he stopped breathing.. anyone experience this?

dunvilles

Twice tonight, after DS's nap, he started crying so hard that his mouth stayed open, he was rigid, & stopped breathing. Once because I took away the bottle of tylenol he grabbed when I dropped it out of the medicine cabinet, and once because I took away a piece of cardboard from a toy we had opened (he was trying to eat it). The second fit was horrible! His lips actually started to turn bluish purple and his mouth was open like he was screaming but no sound came out. I blew in his face a bit and he started breathing and then just collapsed on me... like he was worn out... he has been clingy to me ever since. What is going on?! I am so worried about him!

destinationAZ

I'm not usually on the bump but my little one passed out and became non-responsive for a short period after crying so hard. He had fallen so we thought he was injured and took him to the ER and after some testing it turns out he passed out. Hasn't happened again though.

chloephoebecali

When I was little I used to cry/tantrum until I turned blue and passed out.  My friend's kid does the same thing.  Ped said they will grow out of it.  Still scary, though.

macchiatto

I know a few people whose toddlers have breath-holding spells when they get upset. Very scary, but it seems to be a phase you just have to wait out. I would call your pediatrician though.

GingerBabyJ

Sometimes if J is really upset or hurts herself she will do a silent cry where she holds her breath and she has passed out. Try blowing in your lo's face when he does that

Aligracegirl

I remember reading, maybe in What to Expect (the toddler edition), that this is normal.

I don't have any experience with it, and I'm sure it's super scary.

carlab44

My niece, now 14, used to do this all the time. The first time I saw it happen was when she was 2 and it scared me to death. Definitely something to bring up with your pediatrician, but if it is the same scenario my niece would do it is scary but not harmful. 

hi_dn@hotmail.com

It is called a breath holding spell. My son has had one. They are super scary but harmless. Google it. And give extra cuddles!q

JingleBeIIe

My son does this a lot. Apparently he got it from me because my mom always tells the story about how she splashed my face with cold water once and then I never did it again. I don't know if I'm brave enough yet to do that with DS.

mistresscox

Oh yeah, my kid does that and it SUCKS!  It's usually for similar things-like when I take something and she's mad about it.  She's done it probably a dozen times total, and it's exactly like you describe.  

I just hold her head so she doesn't hit it when she goes limp-as soon as she passes out she starts breathing again.  I try to stay calm, but my goodness it is terrifying when it happens!  DD used to respond to me blowing in her face, but that doesn't make her inhale anymore.  I've heard splashing cold water in their face can help, but I'm never around water when it happens so I haven't tried it yet.   Needless to say, I'm not looking forward to the terrible two's....