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Breath-holding is when a baby or child stops breathing for up to 1 minute and may faint. It can happen when a child is frightened, upset, angry, or has a sudden shock or pain. It's usually harmless but can be scary for parents, particularly when it happens for the first time.
These could be symptoms of breath-holding, but could also be related to other, more serious conditions.
If a doctor has not previously told you it's breath-holding, it's important to get it checked immediately.
During breath-holding, your child may:
Your child may be sleepy or confused for a short while afterwards.
Breath-holding can be scary for parents, but it's usually harmless and your child should grow out of it by the age of 4 or 5.
Breath-holding episodes:
Your child is not holding their breath on purpose and cannot control what happens when they have a breath-holding episode.
There are some things you can do when a child has a breath-holding episode.
stay calm – it should pass in less than 1 minute
lie the child on their side – do not pick them up
stay with them until the episode ends
make sure they cannot hit their head, arms or legs on anything
act normally after an episode, reassure them and ensure they get plenty of rest
do not shake your child or splash them with water
do not put anything in their mouth (including your fingers)
do not give them mouth-to-mouth or CPR
do not tell them off (they're not doing it deliberately)
Your child has already been diagnosed with breath-holding and:
The GP will try to find out if there's a more serious underlying condition. They may suggest your child has an ECG to check their heart rhythm.
There's no specific treatment for breath-holding. It should eventually stop by the time your child is 4 or 5 years old.
Medicines are rarely used to treat breath-holding.
Breath-holding is sometimes related to iron deficiency anaemia.
Your child's blood iron levels may be checked. They may need iron supplements if their iron levels are low.
Breath-holding is not something a child does deliberately.
It's usually triggered by a sudden shock or pain, or strong emotions like fear, upset or anger.
There are 2 types of breath-holding:
