Does your little one suddenly catch his breath? (Breath-Holding Spell) Let's talk about this!

Does your little one suddenly hold his breath sometimes? You must feel very scared at that time, right? It is really a very disturbing thing to see. But don't worry, today we will learn exactly about this 'breath-holding spell' or in medical terms `(Breath-Holding Spell)`. We will talk about many things like what it really is, why it happens, and what to do if it happens.

What does this breathing mean?

Simply put, holding your breath is when a small child holds their breath for a short period of time when they are angry, upset, scared, or in pain . Imagine, if your baby asks for a toy and you don't give it to them, they may get very angry and suddenly scream and then hold their breath. Sometimes this holding of breath can even cause the child to lose consciousness . In fact, seeing a child holding their breath like this is a very scary experience for a mother or father. The panic that comes to mind at that time is unbearable. But the most comforting thing you can say is that holding your breath is not harmful to the child . Most of the time, it lasts less than a minute . The most important thing is that this condition goes away without any special treatment as the children get older. So there is nothing to worry about.

Are there types of breathing?

Yes, there are mainly two types of breathing. Let's see what they are.

1. Cyanotic Breath-Holding Spell

This is the most common type. What happens here is that the child cries a lot , that is, when they scream and cry very loudly or in frustration, they suddenly hold their breath. Then the child's face and lips start to turn blue . As if they are not getting enough oxygen. The word `(Cyanotic)` means "to turn blue". Imagine, when you take your little one to the store and he asks for a toy, and you don't give it to him. Then he lies down on the floor and cries a lot, and suddenly holds his breath and turns blue. This is called `(Cyanotic breath-holding spell)`. This usually happens because of extreme anger or frustration .

2. Pallid Breath-Holding Spell

What happens is that the child's face suddenly turns pale . As if they have lost a little blood. Before this happens, the child may cry a little , or may not cry at all . `(Pallid)` means "pale". This `(Pallid breath-holding spell)` usually happens when the child is suddenly startled or feels some pain . For example, if the child suddenly falls while playing, or hits his head somewhere, or is scared by a loud noise, this can happen. Then he may suddenly turn pale and hold his breath without crying.

Important: In both cases, whether the child is blue or pale, they can sometimes lose consciousness for up to a minute . It's scary to see that. But they regain consciousness after a while.

Another thing is, very rarely, that is, in very unusual cases , a child may have a small seizure like ``Seizure`` with this breathing. But don't be alarmed by this. Even if a seizure occurs in this way, it will not cause any long-term harm to the child. Also, this does not put the child at risk of developing a seizure disease (like epilepsy) later on. Keep that in mind. This breathing is usually seen among healthy children . This condition can be seen from about 6 months to about 6 years of age . However, it is most common in children between 6 months and 18 months (one and a half years) . Sometimes this can also run in families . That is, if the parents had this when they were young, there is a small chance that the child will also have it.

Why do little ones have this habit of holding their breath?

The first thing to say is that children never hold their breath intentionally . That is, they don't do it out of fear of 'scare mom' or 'I want to do what I want'. This is something they can't control . It's like a natural response from their body. To be honest, doctors still haven't been able to find out exactly what the exact cause is . That is, it's difficult to say, 'Oh, this is the reason'. However, it has been found that sometimes children with iron-deficiency anemia, which is caused by iron deficiency, may experience this breathing more frequently. That is, there may be a slight connection between this condition and low iron levels in the body. If there is such a condition, then if it is properly treated, it may be possible to reduce the frequency of this breathing. Therefore, it is a good idea to see a doctor and talk about this.

What do I do if my baby is holding his breath?

This is the biggest problem that many parents have. It's a very scary time, isn't it? But the most important thing is not to panic. Let's see what to do at such a time.

If this happens for the first time...

If this is the first time your child has had this type of wheezing, it's important to seek medical attention . That means seeing a pediatrician. As mentioned earlier, this type of wheezing is usually not harmful. However, it's important to get your child checked out . This will also make sure there are no other serious underlying problems. The doctor may also do a simple blood test.

When the child is holding his breath...

As soon as your baby stops breathing, do the following without panicking:

• As soon as possible, lay your baby down on a flat, safe surface . This could be in his crib or on the floor. But if you're laying him down on the floor, lay him down on a clean cloth. It's best if you can turn his head to the side.
• If there are any sharp objects (like sharp objects, glass shards) or hard objects (like rocks, pieces of wood, table and chair legs) around the child, remove them. This is because if the child loses consciousness, they can hit their body and cause injury .
• Stay close to your child . Don't leave him alone. Being close to you is important for both the child and you. Your calmness will be felt by the child.

If the child loses consciousness...

If a child loses consciousness while holding their breath, oh my! But remember these things:

• Try to stay as calm as possible. If you panic, things can get even more complicated. Tell yourself, 'My baby won't be hurt, this will go away in a while, the doctor said it's not dangerous.'
• Check your child's mouth for food or other objects that could get stuck (like toys). Sometimes, something in the mouth can cause choking if it does. If there is something in the mouth, carefully remove it.
• Most importantly: If the child turns blue or stops breathing for more than a minute , call 1990 ( Suwaseriya ) ambulance immediately or take the child to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. This should be treated as an emergency .

After catching my breath...

After the breathing is over and the child returns to normal,

• Hug the child lovingly and comfort him/her . Say, 'Everything is okay now, son/daughter, there is nothing to be afraid of, Mommy/Daddy is here.'
• Make sure to let your child know that this is not their fault , as some children may be afraid that this is something they did and may feel guilty.

Are there ways to prevent this breathing?

There's really no way to say, "If you do this, you'll never catch your breath again." Because, as I said before, this isn't something children do on purpose. It's a natural response. However, there are some things you can try to reduce the frequency of these catch your breaths. You can talk to your doctor for more advice on this. If your child usually catches his breath when he's crying or upset, there are things you can do to reduce his anxiety and irritability . For example:

• Don't let the child get too tired . And don't let him get too hungry .Don't give it to them. Because when they are tired and hungry, little ones get upset, angry, and lose patience. So give them food and sleep at the right time.
• When explaining or punishing your child, use calm discipline methods . Try to explain things in a loving but firm manner, without yelling or hitting. It is important to set boundaries for your child's behavior.
• Identify situations in advance when your child is likely to get angry, and if possible, avoid those situations (e.g., going somewhere he doesn't like) or prepare your child for those situations.

Very important: It is very difficult to see a child struggling to breathe. Don't let your child's tantrums and crying go unnoticed . It is not good to give them everything they ask for, to pretend that you don't see every mistake they make, because you are afraid that they will stop breathing. If this happens, it can also affect your child's discipline, and they may use this as a weapon. If you are having trouble figuring out the best way to discipline your child, talk to your doctor about it. He/she will give you good advice.

Repeatedly tell yourself that holding your breath is not harmful and that it will go away on its own as your baby grows . Sometimes, if your fear and anxiety about holding your breath is too much for you to handle, you may find it helpful to talk to a mental health professional . They can give you advice on how to deal with the situation and how to calm down. It is also important to take care of your mental health.

So, finally, a few things to remember...

Okay, we've talked a lot about this `(Breath-Holding Spell)` or the little ones holding their breath, haven't we? I hope that has eased your fears a bit. Finally, let's remind ourselves of these points again:

• Holding your breath is not something children do on purpose. They can't control it. So don't blame the child.
• This is not harmful and usually lasts less than a minute.
• The child may become cyanotic or pallid . Sometimes, they may even lose consciousness .
• Very rarely , a small seizure may occur, but it does not cause long-term damage, nor does it lead to epilepsy.
• If this happens for the first time, definitely see a doctor. See if there are other causes.
• Stay calm and make the child lie down in a safe place while he/she is breathing. Remove sharp objects from the area.
• If the person is not breathing for more than a minute, or if they turn blue, take them to a hospital immediately (call 1990).
• This is the child.It's something that goes away on its own as you get older (usually around the age of 5-6).
• Don't let your child do anything reckless out of fear of this. Discipline is important.
• If you are very concerned about this, seek medical advice or a mental health professional.

So, if something like this happens to your little one, don't panic, act wisely. While treating your child with love, don't forget to seek the necessary medical advice. Good health to all of you!

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