BREATHING - Infant

Many parents worry about the breathing patterns of their children. While physicians have actually contributed to these worries in the past, there are thankfully very few breathing "patterns" to worry about. The most important is apnea or stopping breathing for more than 15 seconds. Stopping breathing for less than 15 seconds is considered normal. Infants exhibit something called periodic breathing in which they stop breathing for up to 15 seconds. Infants periodic breath about 5% of the time for a total of 30 minutes of not breathing a day if you add it up. Infants can also appear to "catch their breath" and can breathe rapidly for a few seconds to minute and both of these are normal. If you see your child stop breathing for more than 15 seconds, then please call the office immediately on an emergency basis or call 911.

The respiratory center in the brain is not mature until about 3-4 months. Infants can breath faster and slower for short periods. You will often wee them breath 60-80 breaths a minute for 10-15 seconds, then seem to stop for a few seconds. This is completely normal so long as it stops in 15-30 seconds. The best thing to do if you see unusual breathing in your baby is watch for 30-60 seconds and see if it just comes and goes. In a sick baby, not only will it continue, there should be other signs of illness. While in a well baby, the breathing will return to normal in a few seconds and there will be nothing else wrong.

Please also refer to the circumoral cyanosis (blue around the lips) section.