Tantrums.. Normal?

Sometimes (not all the time) when Jake throws a tantrum (who said terrible twos) he goes rigid, stops breathing and his eyes roll back in his head.

It last a couple of seconds and when he comes round he is all floppy and sleepy.

He has probably done it about 5 or 6 times since April.

At first I thought it was because he was crying so hard he was holding his breath and sort of passing out but now I am starting to wonder if its something else...

Anyone elses toddler do this? He doesnt hurt himself and its only a couple of seconds... am going to book him in to see the paed anyway but just wondered if this is more common than I think?

Nope, I am always near him (ie trying to change his nappy or clothes when he would rather be running around Nakey LOL) when it happens so I grab him.

Mel - I think it's prob worth a trip to the dr about... is it triggered by situations that you would expect tantrum like behaviour or more random?

Hi Mel,
It is quite a common thing for toddlers.
My sister used to do it to my mum all the time and Ella did it quite a few times when she was younger too.

They're explained quite well HERE

My mum taught me a good trick to stop her before she got to passing out, you just blow a puff of air into their face as soon as you see them start to hold their breath.
It works really well as the air on their face makes them take a big breath in.

She grew out of it pretty quickly, in fact I'm sure she hasn't done it for quite a few years now!

GL chick! Kids are always finding new and exciting ways to challenge us eh?

Mel - I was gonna say it's most likely breath holding spells as caraMel mentioned, I would still be inclined to double check with the dr though... I had a bit of a scare with DD2 when she had an absent type seizure when younger so I know how scary it can be and google is definitely something to avoid!

melnel, DS has does exactly the same, turns a wicked shade of purple/blue, eyes roll back and then goes limp, takes a breath and then is groggy for 10 mins or so after. First time freaked my out, thank goodness my MIL had told me stories of DH or it would have been such a shock.

I blow on his face also or I have tried cold hands on his face. If he is throwing a tanty and then it goes silent.....I know he is holding his breath and then hold onto him so he doesnt hit his head if he flakes out.
I can't access the link above to see what they say about it, but my doctor said it is an involuntary thing where he gets so upset and then can't take a breath. DR also said it can be hereditary (DH did it).   I must say the older DS is getting now the less he holds his breath for so long.

My friend has a screamer so she hates leaving him to have a tanty so not sure which is worse

it will get better

Edited by pikelets