Crying so hard he stops breathing

Luckiest13

My 3 week old DS has had two spells of crying so hard that he seemed to stop breathing or pass out for a few seconds. It happened within a couple minutes of starting to cry for food. I barely had a chance to prepare and he was already flipping out. He turned bright red then purple and looked like he passed out. Then his pink color came back and he was quiet and took the milk.

I will ask our pedi about it. But wondering if any other babies out there do that. I never saw that in my daughter.

sparkymcgeee

It happens. Usually during diaper changes for us. They are fine. Just fix him as soon as you are able. Which from the sounds of it isn't long.

chelle1980

My son holds his breathe and turns purple when he is really upset. At the hospital, they told me to tap the bottom of his foot and that usually makes him catch his breathe. One time he did it while I was changing him and tapping his foot did not work. He really scared me because of how long he held it so I picked him up off the changing table and he started to breathe. He did it in front of the pedi after getting his 2 month shots and she said she never saw a baby hold his breathe for that long. She told me that the worst that can happen is he will pass out and the breathe. That is horrible and I never want to see that. She also thinks that he will continue to do this even as a toddler.

tamnate

There has only been one time when this has happened with DS, and I blew gently but forcefully in his face and he immediately took a breath.  We used to do this when I worked in daycare with infants and it always worked to make them take a breath.  It usually got them to calm down as well. HTH!!! 

eturp

tamnate:

There has only been one time when this has happened with DS, and I blew gently but forcefully in his face and he immediately took a breath.  We used to do this when I worked in daycare with infants and it always worked to make them take a breath.  It usually got them to calm down as well. HTH!!! 

This! It triggers a reflex and will force them to breath.

MK18

Our little guy cries like that too on occasion.  Our pedi recommended gently blowing in his face.  They also said most children that do this as infants continue into toddlerhood and will pass out from holding their breath.  Thankfully he hasn't passed out yet, I try to stop him before he gets to that point.

mommy411

Oh that is scary! I used to do this as a toddler. We actually went to England when I was 2. I didn't want to get on the plane and held my breathe and pushed my head against the floor and passed out!!!

TXmum

My LO does this too.  His eyes get very swollen, he turns crimson and he screams so hard no sound comes out and he holds his breath.  He's done it from day one, only now he can hold it longer and longer.  Blowing in his face works to make him breathe.  Doesn't stop the wailing though.  I think it kind of pisses him off more.  But at least he stops to take a breath and that's what I care about the most!