'blue' attacks/holding breath - 13 month old

[MamaPan]

Hi All
Hoping some one has some advice as this is a bit of a worry
The other day my FDC lady told me that DS held his breath when she was trying to get him to sleep, so she had to hold him while he slept. I looked it up and heard about 'blue attacks' and babies holding their breath when they are upset.
DH just dropped me at work and DS got upset in the car. he cried and then held his breath - and started to shut his eyes and kind of drift off... started breathing/crying when DH picked him up.
I am so worried about this - is it something medical? or behavioural? what can we do about it?
I will take him to pead to et it checked out, so scary but any stories or advice welcome PLEASE. DH and I are very worried/upset about it. I am crying at work thinking about it. do you think it is a reaction to me leaving him?
Thanks.

[~Kate~]

Oh, lovely. I have no advice or tips for you just wanted to give you the biggest possible and I hope you find a resolution to this ASAP. Can you call the paed for advice or even the MHCN?

[AnyDream]

Pregpan, I'd be getting him checked at the drs just for your peace of mind BUT my mother says my sister used to do this - hold her breath when she was cranky when other children would be having a screaming tanty instead. Apparently it's not a problem because if they ever hold it enough to pass out then the autonomic nervous system takes over and just start breathing again normally. Which would be stressful until you get used to it, I imagine. But if it were me I'd be checking with the dr in the first instance.

There's some reassuring info here.

[MamaPan]

Thanks Girls - am so upset about this and poor DH who had to see it this morning.
I have called the paed to get an appt and he cant see me til the new year!!! Will go to the GP when we get back home and have him checked out, though from all i have read it seems to be unlikely it is medical I guess - more behavioural and just something that 'happens'.
So awful to see/deal with though... everything i read seems to indicate that it is common, though have never heard of it with anyone i know...
He nearly did it the other day when DH dropped me at the airport too so of course mother guilt kicks in and i feel like it is when i am 'abandoning' him. Poor DH stopped in the middle of a major road to pick him up this morning when he did it in the car...

[AnyDream]

Pregpan big big . It's probably not a consolation to say at this point that if he keeps doing it you will get used to it eventually (!)

[MummyDuck]

HUGE hugs. My brother used to to the exact same thing. One day when he was maybe 3 or 4 and I was 9 or 10 my mum dragged him to me and asked me to do something - he was blue, so I know exactly how scarey it is.

It is definately behavioural and something more for a therapist. I know it sounds silly but a lot of places are teaching kids to self sooth and how to understand their emotions now from a very early age. A therapist is not for everyone so if you can stick it out know that it will pass. While some kids hit themselves in the head when they are angry or excited your child just does something else, it is just their way of coping with their emotions until they find other ways and understand them better.

Ideas to get him to breathe are to blow on his face or pat on the upper back (not swift hard ones they could wind him further.

At the moment it is lose lose, no one can bare to watch a child hold their breathe till they are blue or drowsy but by picking them up they are finding a bad way of getting what they want........... encouraging this behaviour to continue for longer.

When he stops holding his breath take the time to talk with him about whats going on.... I know he is only 13 months old but the sooner you start the sooner he will understand. Try and get him to tell you how he feels (sad, angry etc), ask him why (Is it because mummy is gone??) explain that she iwll be back, and how he can better deal with the situation and I guess you could try rewarding him when
he does whatever it is you asked of him to do when he is feeling that way.

Of course keep it simple, it may seem like a load of bollocks - especially with such a young child but I guess I would give anything a go.