Get his o2 checked anyway... some kids don't turn blue quickly, and the deep breaths may very well be preventing him from turning blue to begin with.
From a mom whose son has moderate to severe breathing issues here are some other fun signs BEFORE blue comes on:
- Bright pink spots on the cheeks
- White ring around the mouth
- Glassy eyes
- Mood changes (cranky or REALLY silly... the silly is from being high from o2 dep)
Danger signs = all of the above ... but 'go to the ER now' = belly breathing & retractions
(Take off your shirt and stand in front of the mirror. Then put your hand over your nose and mouth so you can't breathe at ALL ... pinch them shut... and try to inhale. You'll see the skin around your collarbone and ribs get "sucked inward", and your belly sucks in even though you're not trying to. If ANY of these things are happening when your son is taking deep breaths... go straight to the ER. It means his airways are blocked and his lungs cannot fully inflate. There are lots of causes for that... from walking pneumonia to inflamation to bronchiospasms to collapsing lungs. ALL need to be treated. If he's retracting at all... OUT THE DOOR.)
My son had breathing issues for YEARS that we didn't know about because he adapted to them so well. He took fast shallow breaths, followed by deep breathing. He could literally run miles using his tricks... and he's a hospital oddity, because he'll be chatting up the nurses and doctors and just as bright and perky at in the 70's and 80's (and not blue at all) as a kid is with full stats at 98-99.
It's probably nothing with your son... but had I known ANY of these things years ago, we could have had him treated before his condition became life threatening.