Baby Holding Breath and Lips Turning Blue

Hi S.,
My grandma used to tell me about how my aunt would hold her breath when she was throwing a fit (not saying your little guy is throwing a fit). Anyway... She would turn blue and the whole bit. So, my grandma threw a glass of water in her face. Haha... I know, it sounds cruel, but it works! So, if you're worried about him passing out throw some water on his face and he'll take a deep breath in! This doesn't solve the problem, but it at least gives you a tool to get him breathing again. My grandma said she did it twice to my aunt (she was about 2) and she never had to do it again.

Hi,
My younger brother did this when he got hurt & only a few times, in fact he would pass out. No one knew why but seemed to grow out of it fast. I think at first as my Mom freaked out & when she found out that even if he passed out he would breathe that it jus seemed to stop. Just a thought, of course I would keep an eye on him, but don't let it freak you out & it will stop. We don't even think my brother knew what he was doing, but he stopped.
I really hope this helps you a bit.
L.

S. - My dad used to tell us that if you hold your breath and pass out, your body will start breathing again when you pass out! LOL
My brother used to do the same thing, but his eyes would roll all the way back and he WOULD pass out. My mom, of course, took him to the doctor, and after scans and checks decided that he was just a bit more of a drama queen.
L.

It strikes me that you probably have a very mature child. Meaning that they don't WANT to be throwing a fit, and have found a way that "works" to stop it.

I have to say, I like the water idea. It strikes me as practical, and painless, and quick. Combine that with talking & showing other ways to calm down (taking big deep slow breaths, counting ...um my one year old could count, not that he really knew what the numbers MEANT at that age...but we counted when he got upset), etc. Whatever sorts of things you do with your children to teach them self control in hard situations.

So, too, once a person passes out...they DO start breathing again. I've only known of one child who didn't have the breathing reflex...and she stayed in the hospital until she was 6 years old (she had to be taught to breathe consciously...and would forget if she got excited or distracted). Since your wee one not only breathes but has already developed conscious control, I wouldn't worry.

BTW...have you started swim lessons yet? That could be another way to phase out the holding-breath thing. The "You hold your breath when you're underwater, not when you're in the air. In the air you breathe. Under the water, you don't."