Seeking for an Answer on My Son's Condition

Hi L.,

My youngest daughter did this too when she was young. I had just had another baby for a total of four and I too was very busy(worked a full time job). The first time she did it I ran to her and held her. The second time I looked at her and told her to get up I wasn't going to baby her. The third time she did it I picked her up popped her (diaper was on and barely touched her) and let her continue her fit! Next time I walked away and that was the last time she did it! She's a staff sergent in the US Army and has done 2 tours in Iraq and is now in Afganistan! Baby they will do what ever it takes to get Mom's attention!!! They are smart too in learning what they can do to get the extra attention!! I will say just to make sure there is nothing physically wrong with him before proceeding to ignoring his fits!

He is pitching a fit trying to get your undivided attention. I do understand this because I had one that did that too . What we did was put him in his own room and let him work it out on his own. We figured out that once he did not have an audience, he stopped whatever it was he was doing.

These kids of ours are smart! THey figure out at an early age how to push our buttons and make us mad, don't they! :) Hang in there! I bet we could exchange some (now that we are away from the situation) hairy and amusing stories!

My oldest neice did this-her grandmother just let her go and ignored her. Once she passed out, hit her head and decided that was not what she wanted to do anymore. When my kids tantrums started to escalate I tossed a glass of cold water in their face, shot them with the kitchen thing or a handy water pistol. Dont' feel bad if you just have to laugh at their expression, they get shocked and sputter. After that I just leave the room and act as if nothing's happened. I have been followed and I just leave the room. When the tantrums gone, I ask what it was they wanted. My oldest just wanted an audience and learned that didn't get my attention, good or bad.

My 2 year old daughter will sometimes hold her breath when she is hurt or really upset, but not to the point of turning purple. I think that your son may have trouble managing his emotions. Maybe you can talk to him about how he is feeling when he falls and that it is dangerous to hold his breath.

He could be knocking the air out of his lungs when he falls, which is scary. It is not uncommon for children to cry so hard that they can't catch their breath....does he cry when he falls? Does he fall often (if so he could have problems with fluid in his inner ear throwing off his balance). I wouldn't worry about it too much, but would yell "breathe" at him when he does it and show him how to take deep breaths (this will also have a calming affect on him). Teach him to take deep breaths before it happens so he knows what he needs to do after he falls. As for the actual holding of the breath, the body will not allow him to deprive himself of oxygen when it needs it. He will pass out first and his body will take over normal breathing.

I would call the pediatrician on this one. There may be some sort of blockage or gastro problem or he may be very dramatic. Good luck!

I read both your questions and I also think you should check with your pediatrician, but it does sound like this is his way of pitching a fit. Young children have a tendancy to throw fits because they are not able to communicate their feelings. Most likely it is just a phase, but if he is causing himself to almost pass out you need to speak with his doctor for advice on how to curb this behavior. This is defnitely not healthy.