Alarming TikTok Video of Baby Holding Her Breath

Here is what pediatricians have to say about the Alarming TikTok Video of a baby holding her breath, discussing what causes this behavior and what should be done after it occurs.

A TikTok video that has gone viral has everyone’s parents holding their breath. On the other hand, a healthcare provider has turned to the site to set the record straight and clear things out.

A young child may be seen being held by an adult in the video. The unfortunate infant stares blankly with their mouth wide open and appears frozen. If you look closely, you’ll see they’re not breathing.

“This is what it looks like to hold your breath during a spell,” says Dr. Fayez Ajib, who uses the TikTok handle @lifeofadoctor on the platform. According to his bio, Ajib works as an emergency physician in the city of Los Angeles. According to the physician, the age range of youngsters who are most likely to experience this is between 6 and 18 months old, and the behavior is not intentional.

What Exactly Is a Spell That Holds Your Breath?

In the video, Dr. Ajib explains that the behavior is similar to that of a reflex. “Most of the time, it’s a reaction to something that happened, like how they became upset or shocked.”

Dr. Ajib mentioned that each episode only lasted one minute, yet the video seemed to go on for a whole hour despite only being a minute long. Sometimes the infant will fall asleep, just like the tiny one did in the video that the doctor was talking about earlier.

In such a scenario, the body steps in to assist the infant in regaining their breathing. The infant in the video immediately resumes breathing after being given the prompt. Nevertheless, the lack of oxygen causes the baby’s lips to turn bluish. However, the viewer should discuss the incident with their child’s pediatrician, particularly if this is the first time it has occurred, as the doctor reassures them that everything should go back to normal with the kid.

Although the story had a nice ending, TikTok was quite nervous.

One reader said, “Well, that’s extremely terrible,” in response to the previous statement.

Another patient commented, “You [gave] me a breath-holding spell, but truly, I would flip out if my child did this,” to which the physician replied, “I gave you a breath-holding spell.”

“This was something that my kid did for approximately six to seven months….”

Someone also commented that although she finally outgrew it, it is still a really unsettling situation.

Another poster remarked, “I would panic so much.”

The physician was able to empathize. “It’s a terrifying experience,” he said in response, “but it could help to know that breath-holding does not create long-term damage or have any detrimental consequences on the brain.”

TikTok isn’t always the ideal place to go for medical or parenting advice, and it’s always vital to make sure that what you see is accurate before becoming concerned or brushing it off. The expertise of two physicians has validated the depiction of breath-holding spells in the TikTok film.

Breath-Holding Spells Do Not Involve Any Danger

Betty Choi, M.D., a pediatrician and the creator of Human Body Learning Lab, states that “having personally experienced these experiences…it can be terrifying for a caregiver to experience” (Having personally seen these events). “Time can seem to stand still. But these breath-holding bouts will typically end on their own in under a minute, and they won’t typically cause any harm to the body or the brain.

Amanda Stovall, M.D., a physician located in Illinois, notes that in the event that a kid loses consciousness, the child’s parents may observe some stiffening or muscle spasms. According to Dr. Stovall, it takes youngsters one to two minutes to return to their normal selves after being startled. “Breath-holding spells are most prevalent in children between the ages of 6 and 18 months old, but they can happen to children as old as six years old.”

What You Should Do If You Notice That Your Child Is Holding Their Breath

Dr. Choi believes that despite the circumstance being very frightening, parents can take some precautions to guarantee that their children are safe throughout the experience. Dr. Choi advises, “Make sure nothing that could cause them to choke is in their mouth at all times.” “Place the child gently on a level surface, such as the floor or the ground, and do your best to maintain your composure and reassurance while you are near them.” Sometimes shortening the episode by blowing air on their face or placing a cool towel on their forehead will assist.

Even if you think it was just one of these breath-holding periods, you should still make an appointment with the child’s pediatrician, as both Dr. Stovall and Dr. Choi will advise you to do after the episode airs.

You must discuss this matter with your child’s pediatrician because of the striking similarity between these episodes and seizures and cardiac issues. They will be able to assist you in determining whether or not your child needs additional testing.

Meaningful articles you might like: How Can I Help My Teen Establish a Healthy Sleep Schedule, How To Talk With Your Kids About Risky Online Activities, Online Counselling for Teens: What Parents Need to Know