Son Passing Out During a Tantrum

J.,

He is more than likely holding his breath when he is throwing these tantrums. When he starts to do this the best thing to do is blow into his face. My middle son would hold his breath and I would have to blow into his face in order to get him to breath so that he would not pass out.

Good luck.

My daughter never turned blue, but twice when she was a toddler she fell on her butt and passed out. The first time it happened, I freaked out and called 911. The paramedics/firefighters said she either knocked the wind out of herself when she fell, or she held her breath when crying and passed out. The second time it happened, I figured out that she was in pain and never took that big breath in the middle of crying. Anyway, every time she'd get hurt after that I used to blow in her face and say "breathe!" I can look back on it now and laugh but it was scary back then! (She's 9 now)

This is not unusual. The woman who keeps my daughter explained that they get so mad and will hold their breath until sometimes passing out. She said the only thing we can do is NOT freak out. Since breathing is an involuntary action by your body, as soon as the child passes out, breathing kicks back in. There might be more to it than this, so asking your Dr is always a good idea, but hopefully it's just a tantrum thing that will pass.

Good luck!
E.

I'm not a doctor and that has never happened to my kids (it sounds very scary, God Bless you!) I've heard that it's normal. I would definitly contact the doctor to see what is going on.

My daughter does this as well. She started as soon as she was old enough to throw a fit. She's 2 1/2 now and only does it if she's really hurt (like if she pinches her fingers in the closet door). Her doctor told me to try to distract her, but it didn't really work. By her first birthday she was doing it several times a day. Eventually I had to start ignoring it because she had learned that when she does it I freaked out and picked her up and comforted her so she started to do it more often. Sometime around 18 months when she started to do it I would move her to her bed or another safe place and tell her when she quit crying she could come out. She still throws and occasional fit and I still have to put her in her bed for it, but she does not hold her breath when she does it. Like I said early, the only time she holds her breath is when she's in pain. It maybe happens once a month. I know it's really scary and it's horrible to see your child turn blue in the face. I wish you luck. Be sure that if you leave him with anyone, that they are aware that he does it so they don't panic.

A.

I used to babysit a little girl who would do this from time to time. The parents told me what to expect and when I saw her get frustrated to blow in her face before she got too much into the tantrum. She only fully passed out once in my care and that's because I was helping her brother on the potty and couldn't get to her in time. She threw a tantrum, didn't breathe, passed out, fell over (on a pillow *thank goodness) and stayed down for a couple minutes. Although, as one other mom said, she started breathing again very shortly after falling over. She just kind of slept a little for a couple minutes after that. Then she'd be fine.
It is something that some children learn to do and end up finding out that it gets a LOT of attention. They end up threatening that behavior to get what they want. Definitely discuss it with your doctor, but try not to worry too much. He'll be fine. Just have to watch when he's about to fall. Try the blowing in the face before he gets too much into the tantrum. It may work. Anything to snap him out of it without giving in to his attitude. Good luck!

I found out how easy it was for my daughter to do this when she was a toddler. I used the same old thing I saw my mother do, I held her arm above her head and blew into her face and told her loudly to breathe so she could hear my voice. (don't know what holding her arm over her head was for to this day.) She would suck air into her lungs instead of breathing out causing her to get faint. Also, later she would hyperventilate herself by sucking in air, purposely as a teenager. This got a lot of attention when she was not at home, and they would want to send her home from school. I would say no. Hope it improves for you.

Hi J.,
I do not have any personal experience with this, but I have a story: My MIL told me this used to happen to my husband at that age. The pediatrician's advice at that time (30 years ago, mind you) was to lay him on the floor an splash cold water in his face!! IMO, the advice from her ped. was just to give her something "to do" while it was happening so she did nor feel helpless just standing there waiting for it to be over. My MIL swears the technique worked...he would "come to" as soon as the water hit his face, and all was well.

I would definitely ask your pediatrician for advice on how to best deal with it.

I have a funny story for you and I hope it makes you feel better.

My friend's son who is going to be 30 this January used to have several plugs; most people call them binky's. He would go around if one was out of place and say, " where's my plug". He was about four years old when he stopped; however, when one was missing and he couldn't find one, he would hold his breath turn blue and pass out. I believe my friend would just turn him over on his side and he would regain consciousness. She said that it scared her and she talked to the doctor and he told her what to do.

Just to let you know my oldest brother would do the same thing when he was a toddler to my mother. My mother said it was because my brother would refuse to wear a hat in the cold.

It's all about the power. My mother said that she remembers almost 60 years ago, when her mother would ask her to do something and because her mother wanted her to do something, she wouldn't do it.

It's beyond me why they don't. My son who is two is doing the same thing; however with out the breathing issue. I hope that He doesn't start it. If he has a tantrum, I just move away and let him throw it.

I also talk to him about his behaviors and hopefully, soon, he will be more helpful.

Suddenly my son's tantrums don't sound so bad. Good Lord, I can't imagine what I would feel if I had to deal with the things you ladies are sharing. It sounds common enough, J., that you don't have a lot to worry about. Isn't this sight wonderful, just to know you aren't alone and to set your mind somewhat at ease before you get to the doctor. Good luck. I'm sure your baby will be just fine. You, however, might need a cocktail!

I have a friend with a daughter that does that. The worst thing about it is how worried the parent gets. Passing out is fine, because as soon as your son passes out, he can catch his breath. Don't worry. He just has a strong temper.

It's been many years, but I'm told my sister used to do this. And - believe it or not - my parents handled it by "ignoring" it! (She "survived" - and - learned that the tantrums didn't really produce much in the way of results.) But - yes - I'd check with the doctor. (Tantrums run in my family, and so we all had to learn to not get too excited. If the tantrum produces excitement, that is a sort of reward - and heaven knows, you don't want to reward that behavior!)

Good luck!