Why does my toddler hold his breath during tantrums?

[MichaelL]

My 18-month-old has started this new thing where he holds his breath for a few seconds when he gets really upset, and it scares me every time. I’m trying to figure out if this is a normal toddler tantrum behavior or something I should be more concerned about and bring up at his next check-up.

[Sofia94]

Yeah, that sounds like breath-holding spells we ran into with our toddler. It starts when they’re upset, and they hold their breath for a few seconds, then crash. It scared us at first too, but it tends to be tied to tantrums and not to long-term problems. I kept a simple log: what triggered it, how long it lasted, and what color his lips or face looked like. If he goes blue or seems unresponsive, that’s a red flag and you call or go to urgent care. Otherwise, mention it at the next pediatric visit; most doctors say it’s common between ages 6 months and 6 years.

[George.J]

Mine started around 18 months as well, and I felt like I was living in a hurricane of crying. The spell would just stop on its own after a breath or two and he’d be totally fine. We did nothing special besides staying calm and offering water or a distraction before it got that bad.

[RyanNM]

Maybe the real issue isn’t the breath hold at all but the tantrums behind it. Sometimes I wonder if we’re missing signals like fatigue, hunger, or overstimulation. I tried adjusting nap times and a snack routine, and it helped a day or two, but then it came back.

[Luna60]

I’d keep an eye on color, breathing, and how long it lasts; if there’s any fainting, seizure-like activity, or it lasts more than a minute, I’d call the pediatrician right away. Also ask if iron deficiency could be a factor, though I’m not sure how common that is here.