Parents know perfectly well that moment when the crying child momentarily stops breathing. This is what is popularly known as “withholding” and which in clinical terms is called breath-holding spells.
Nothing serious in any case, but the anguish and fright that it generates in fathers and mothers is important.
These episodes usually occur in healthy children under 5 years of age, especially between 2 and 3 years of age. They occur because of a fright, a fall or a child’s anger.
As they explain from:
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“The child abruptly stops breathing and begins to turn purple or pale. Eventually, they often cry.”
The spasm usually lasts no more than a minute, yes, as the SEUP warns:
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“Some children can lose consciousness for a few seconds during the spasm and even have 2 or 3 jerks of the arms or legs without worsening the prognosis.”
Anyone who witnesses one of these episodes can see how distressing the situation is, but pediatricians insist that:
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“It is a benign condition that does not cause damage in the short or long term.”
It is not known why it occurs, although pediatricians indicate that children whose parents or siblings have had similar episodes are more likely to suffer from it.
How to act in the face of a sobbing spasm?
Well, first of all, you have to stay calm. These types of episodes that are so distressing for parents “usually subside spontaneously in a few seconds, without the need to do anything”, explain specialists in pediatric emergencies.
And keeping calm involves several issues:
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The first thing is to avoid or shake him so that he stops depriving himself because “this will not make the spasm end more quickly,” they explain from the SEUP.
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Nor is it necessary to carry out any resuscitation maneuver such as mouth-to-mouth.
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In addition, the less importance is given to these episodes, the better, because, although they are small, they can use these spasms to attract attention or as emotional blackmail.
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Lastly, remember that they are facts without any importance, so you have to continue correcting and reprimanding the child without fear of repeating them.
When should I worry and go to a pediatrician?
Although pediatricians insist that the sobbing spell is completely benign, it is important to know some alarm symptoms that may correspond to other problems in the child that should make us take him to a specialist.
The SEUP experts list some alarm signs that indicate that we are not facing a sobbing spell:
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When this type of episodes occur in 6 months.
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If the child takes more than 5 minutes to recover.
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If after giving up the spasm the child does not fully recover normality.
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If the sobbing spell has not been caused by a blow, a fright, or a reprimand.
In these situations, it is best to consult with the pediatrician to find the cause of this type of episode.
In any case, if a child suffers from sobbing spells, pediatricians insist that you have to be patient and remain calm. As they appear they will disappear.