Breath-Holding Spells: Helping Your Child Avoid Injury

Loading...

 

Bedwetting 

Get easy tips to help your child stop wetting the bed at night. 

 


Bedwetting Solutions
 
 
 
 

Breath-Holding Spells: Helping Your Child Avoid Injury

Topic Overview

To keep your child safe during a breath-holding spell:

  • Lay your child on the floor on his or her back, facing either upward or to one side.
  • Protect your child's head, arms, and legs from hitting something hard or sharp accidentally.
  • If your child was eating before a spell, open his or her mouth carefully and look for pieces of food, but do not try to remove food with your fingers. Instead, tilt your child's head to the side so the food can come out on its own.
  • Touch and talk to your child. This helps you stay calm.
  • Time the spell with a watch. Spells usually last only a minute but seem longer.
  • Don't start rescue breathing unless your child stops breathing for longer than 1 minute.
  • Do not give your child any medicines during a spell.
  • Allow your child to wake up on his or her own after a spell.

Related Information

By: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MD, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Last Revised: April 26, 2010

healthwise logo © 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
My Doctors

More Doctors

Prescribed Reading
Related Conditions for Child Development
Symptoms & Drugs
Loading...

Medicine Safety for Kids

Medicine ChecklistSeven simple steps to make sure you're giving medicine to your kids safely.


 
 
 
 
Loading...
Loading...