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<span style="font-weight: bold">Two types of spells</span>
Most breath-holding spells happen as described above. First the baby cries loudly, then holds her breath, then passes out. In the less-common form of breath-holding spell, the baby cries very briefly or just gasps--maybe she bumped her toe or had some sudden emotion--then turns pale and passes out. This form is more likely to go along with a family history of fainting, and children who do this a lot are more likely to have a fainting problem later on.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Scary to watch but rarely harmful</span>
<span style="text-decoration: underline">You should be reassured that no one can hold her breath to death.</span> In the worst-case scenario, the baby holds her breath for so long that she blacks out and her body assumes control and starts breathing again. The occasional baby holds her breath so long she not only blacks out but also has seizurelike movements!
Again, this is terrifying to watch but not really dangerous. Breath-holding spells do not cause brain injury.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Preventing breath-holding spells</span>
If you want to try to prevent your baby from having a breath-holding spell, you can try to divert her attention. When she begins to cry, distract her by encouraging another activity. Even distraction may not prevent breath-holding, however.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Treatment</span>
This problem sometimes can be treated by giving an iron supplement. A simple blood test can show if anemia (usually caused by low iron) is a likely cause. In some cases, a doctor will advise an electrocardiogram (ECG) or other testing.\
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Most breath-holding spells happen as described above. First the baby cries loudly, then holds her breath, then passes out. In the less-common form of breath-holding spell, the baby cries very briefly or just gasps--maybe she bumped her toe or had some sudden emotion--then turns pale and passes out. This form is more likely to go along with a family history of fainting, and children who do this a lot are more likely to have a fainting problem later on.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Scary to watch but rarely harmful</span>
<span style="text-decoration: underline">You should be reassured that no one can hold her breath to death.</span> In the worst-case scenario, the baby holds her breath for so long that she blacks out and her body assumes control and starts breathing again. The occasional baby holds her breath so long she not only blacks out but also has seizurelike movements!
Again, this is terrifying to watch but not really dangerous. Breath-holding spells do not cause brain injury. <span style="font-weight: bold">Preventing breath-holding spells</span>
If you want to try to prevent your baby from having a breath-holding spell, you can try to divert her attention. When she begins to cry, distract her by encouraging another activity. Even distraction may not prevent breath-holding, however.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Treatment</span>
This problem sometimes can be treated by giving an iron supplement. A simple blood test can show if anemia (usually caused by low iron) is a likely cause. In some cases, a doctor will advise an electrocardiogram (ECG) or other testing.\
more
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