According to Spanish Society of Pediatric Emergencies, the spasms of sobbing (We sometimes talk about the baby 'going gray') “These are episodes that occur after a fright, a fall, a blow or a scolding. The child stops breathing sharply and begins to turn purple or paleFinally, he usually cries. Recovery is complete and fast, in less than a minute, although he may be a bit drowsy ”. It happened to my daughter 3 or 4 times when she was a baby, and I assure you that if you don't know what it is about, it scares a lot because you really think she is suffocating and you have the responsibility to reverse the situation.
It usually occurs in babies who are healthy between (approximately) six months and up to 6 years, although from 4/5 years they will probably be exceeded; some sources indicate that they could be present in 5 to 7 percent of the child population at these ages. To expand the information a bit, clarify that it is not an epileptic event, even if it is sudden, and does not involve significant health risks, the affected baby regaining consciousness and breathing in a matter of seconds.
The most widespread version in terms of its intentionality, reveals that the child does not intentionally provoke it "to annoy"; we are really talking about very small people with immature brains, who in any case they lose control over the expression of their emotion. Let us not forget that they still have many years to lose their innocence, in short: it is very doubtful to think that they want to bother us.
Understanding the spasm of sobbing.
The cause could be being upset or "scared," such as being "scolded" by mom or dad, or being bothered by an older sibling. With a certain capacity for observation, we can even anticipate and foresee the appearance of the sobbing spasm, getting close to the baby, speaking softly to him, even (if he has not already begun to suffer it) holding him in our arms ..., although these episodes begin and end, nobody likes (or so I think) to be watching their baby begin to cry loudly It turns red, then purple, and even stops breathing.
Two types of sobbing spasms are identified: pale (pale face) and cyanotic (bruising)In both there is apnea and absence of consciousness (even for a minute, and this is a lot for those who do not know it). In severe cases seizures also occur, without leaving any type of injury: but be very careful! because a seizure lasting more than 60 minutes needs to be reviewed by a pediatrician, even if it ends.
Never do this during a sobbing spasm.
- Don't lose your cool, yell, or yell at the baby.
- Don't shake it, don't shake it.
- Do not put your fingers in his mouth because he is not choking.
- Don't try to stop it once it has been triggered.
- Keep it away from objects that could hit and hurt you.
Taking into account the age, I would not scold (from my experience) a child of that age eitherAlthough there is a lot of advice circulating around in the sense of reprimanding the baby, supposedly "for expressing himself" in that way, I sincerely believe that we lack patience for them to mature and manage emotions in another way. Of course, yelling uncontrollably at what is happening, and then berating him, would tell me more about the immaturity of the adult than of the baby.
My baby has had a sobbing spasm, what do I do?
You can discuss it with your pediatrician to resolve any doubts you may have, but remember that "they are not cured"; and although in theory they cannot be prevented, in practice there are some signs that allow us to anticipateIn addition (and this is important) the sobbing spasm will appear more frequently in the afternoon, at a time when the baby is tired, so a solution would be to try a calm environment when you think it can affect him.
Remember that even if he is a baby, you can speak softly to him and tell him that you are going to help him through the episodes. Visit the doctor if the child is less than 5 months old or has seizures (and especially if these last more than a minute). The sequence is: apnea + change in facial tonality + crying, then everything returns to normal; If your little one is suffering from a spasm of sobbing, you don't have many reasons for concern, but you can understand them (and perhaps avoid them) for everyone's peace of mind. I did so.