Does your child ever hold his/her breath?

How old is your son? does he have any siblings or do you think he may be doing this to gain your attention. For example when he first did it, did you comment, make an issue, ask him, fuss over him, show concern towards him. Now do you do that same type of behaviour every time he does this. If you do chances are you son has found a way to gain your attention. So the trick is to try to ignore it next time he does it, just either walk away, make no comment or pretend it doesn't bother you. Okay so you have the added let's say "hangup" of him being autistic. How autistic is he, some of them are very intelligent youngsters and although you think they are just interested in their own little world, this might be his way of communicating something to you about his world. God knows how their minds work. My nephew and great nephew are autistic, figure them out? notta chance! So this breath in-pause way may just be part of his routine, something has made him think that by doing that, something happens in his environment that creates a change. Which brings me right back to your reaction to his behaviour. "Stop that" or "Why are doing that?" I would still guess if you pretend to ignore it, it will go away all by its self. If it doesn't then I'm stumped Sylvie and it may be just another little nuance that your son has developed as part of his autism. If the doctors are not worried about it, and he is physically healthy and its not leading to any harmful behaviour like bashing his head on the floor. I would just let him get on with it. He'll be fine, my nephew is 17 now! He goes to college, he has a girlfriend, he wants to get married! Bright blessings Sylvie

Yes, kitty...CJ used to do this an awful lot a few years ago. It was very noticeable and it scared me so much at times. I'd have to keep saying, "CJ, breathe", and then he'd start again. It got to the point where I was so scared that I'd sleep with him to make sure he was breathing; didn't get any rest myself, of course. I'd hear him stop breathing and nudge him, then I'd drift off and jerk awake, listening again. We took him to have a 'sleep test' for apnea as a result without any conclusions because he couldn't sleep long enough. He'd keep twisting and turning and moaning, groaning; he didn't like all the wires. I slept next to him trying to keep him relaxed by caressing his back and arms. But we didn't get any results. Made me mad! I think that he still holds his breath while he's awake but I haven't been able to really catch him at it any more. So, prayerfully he's outgrowing that as well. I feel for you, kitty.

this is strange, indeed, something that i feel must not be neglected by doctors, because what if later on in life, the pauses would increase to more than a second? twenty seconds without breathing could be fatal. there must be some doctor who could give you the answers. i think we have a doctor here in the mylot community --- username's drpotpot or something.

Our son doesn't do this, but since everyone's child is different, it's possible that maybe he is forgetting to breathe until his body reminds him? I don't know what else to say. I don't know anyone who has done this, either, but it doesn't mean there aren't others out there.

I have tried it a lot of times myself. Infact I used to taking it up as a challenge. I used to keep a digital stop watch besides me. Then I would take a deep breath and would try to hold it for as long as possible. Initially I took up aim to hold my breath for a minute. Which was soon achieved. And then I targetted it for 2 minutes. It took me nearly a month to achieve that, but then I started having headaches because of it and I just stopped. So if your son happen to take it the same way as I had, there should not be anything wrong with the child. Just discourage this practice. There are other ways to take up challenges. And scintifically also this is not good.

I think it's a way of wanting to control the breathing, I do that sometimes. My little brother had a thing with his breathing last year where he wouldn't breathe at all when he went in to his room. He was an obsessive cleaner and didn't want to "mess up" his room with his breath.

My son has always done this, although I don't know why. Once he had a bad dream and I couldn't wake him up and he was hardly breathing but when I took him to the hospital they didn't seem worried at all. I was once told it is because he is aware of his breath so is playing with it. As long as norml breathing returns I suppose it can't be anything too bad.

Breath holding is quite common. I certainly did it to see how long I could. In the case of your child it does seem he is doing it regularly. I'd think it was just a child's curiosity as he discovers things he can do. And if you do it yourself (I am doing it now), it is quite intriguing, it makes you more aware of yourself. Ultimately, what would happen if he held his breath forever ....? He would simply pass out, at which point the body would naturally start breathing again, so no worries there!

Actually no i haven't and you might as well say that i have practically raised 4. Two are mine and two are my younger sisters! I have known of children to lose their breath crying and stuff but never just hilding their breath...wow! Maybe he is just being goofy and already has a good personality going on...LOL!! Or maybe he is just bored and trying to let you know with a huge paused sigh...LOL! I wish i could help out more and good luck with this i am sure he is fine keep an eye on him just in case though! God Bless!

I know my response seems odd and perhaps nuts but... What came to my mind when I read your post is how some teenagers do what is called 'choking'. Its a terrible game where they can experience a small brief 'high' by having someone hold their throat and block their airways until they nearly pass out, it supposidly gives them a quick euphoric sensation. Perhaps your child discovered this and is doing it to himself by holding his breath. Just a thought, and perhaps his doctor needs to be made aware of it if he/she isn't already.

don't worry about u'r child ,u'r kid is doing good without knowing himself.why i'm saying is this the type of YOGA one has breath and stop his breath for a second this help's to relax the people .this is yoga which i can follow daily morning......