{"h1":"Do children usually outgrow breath-holding spells?","faq":[{"a":"Most children stop having breath-holding spells by around age 5 or 6. They typically begin between 6 months and 2 years and become less frequent as your child grows.","q":"At what age do breath-holding spells usually stop?"},{"a":"In the vast majority of children, breath-holding spells are harmless and do not cause brain damage. They are a reflex, not a seizure, and your child usually recovers fully within seconds to a minute. A doctor can confirm what is happening if you are unsure.","q":"Are breath-holding spells dangerous or do they cause brain damage?"},{"a":"Yes, breath-holding spells are sometimes linked to iron deficiency. A simple check of iron levels is worthwhile, as treating low iron can reduce how often the spells happen.","q":"Can iron deficiency cause breath-holding spells?"},{"a":"Stay calm, lay your child on their side, and keep them safe from knocks or falls. Do not shake them, splash water or put anything in their mouth. Breathing returns on its own, usually within seconds.","q":"What should I do during a breath-holding spell?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"do-children-usually-outgrow-breath-holding-spells","title":"Do children usually outgrow breath-holding spells?","entity":{"key":"breath-holding","kind":"phenomenon","name":"Breath-Holding Spells","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Emotional","value":"emotional"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Behaviour-Therapy","value":"behaviour-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"behaviours","label":"Behaviours"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-worry-about-breath-holding-spells-in-a-1-year-old","title":"Breath-Holding Spells in a 1-Year-Old: Should You Worry?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-breath-holding-spells-a-normal-part-of-child-development","title":"Is Breath-Holding Spells a Normal Part of Child Development?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-behaviours-often-occur-with-breath-holding-spells","title":"What other behaviours often occur with Breath-Holding Spells?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-help-a-young-child-with-breath-holding-spells","title":"How can I help a young child with breath-holding spells?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-about-breath-holding-spells-in-my-child","title":"When should I worry about breath-holding spells in my child?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-breath-holding-spells-in-young-children","title":"What causes breath-holding spells in young children?"}],"summary":"Children almost always outgrow breath-holding spells, which usually begin between 6 months and 2 years and stop by age 5 or 6. Though frightening to watch, the spells are a reflex, not seizures, and do not cause lasting harm in most children. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*That sudden moment when your little one cries, goes quiet, holds their breath and even changes colour is terrifying to watch — but for almost every child, it is something they grow out of.*\n\n## In short\nYes — children almost always outgrow breath-holding spells. They typically begin between 6 months and 2 years, peak around the toddler years, and **most children stop having them by age 5 or 6**. The spells, though frightening to witness, are not seizures and do not cause lasting harm or brain damage in the vast majority of children. They are a reflex response, not a behaviour your child can control or is doing on purpose.\n\n## Understanding the spells\nBreath-holding spells usually happen after a trigger — a sudden fright, pain, frustration or a bump. There are two common types:\n- **Blue (cyanotic) spells** — the most common; after crying out, the child holds their breath, may go bluish around the lips, and briefly loses consciousness before recovering.\n- **Pale (pallid) spells** — often triggered by a sudden shock or minor injury; the child goes pale and limp.\n\nIn both, your child usually recovers within seconds to a minute, breathing returns on its own, and they are themselves again soon after. Spells are sometimes linked to **iron deficiency**, so a simple check of iron levels can be worthwhile and treatment can reduce how often they happen. During a spell, stay calm, lay your child on their side, keep them safe from knocks, and do not shake, splash water or put anything in their mouth.\n\n## When to seek a check\nWhile breath-holding spells are usually harmless, see a doctor promptly to be sure of what is happening — especially if spells are frequent, if your child takes a long time to recover, if there is jerking that continues after breathing returns, or if you are ever unsure whether it was a spell or a seizure. A clinician can distinguish a breath-holding spell from epilepsy or a heart-rhythm cause and check iron levels.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. If spells are worrying you, our team can guide you on what is typical and when a medical review is needed, and reassure you about your child's overall development. Explore [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/), learn how the [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) works, or book a gentle [developmental assessment](/developmental-assessment).\n\n## Trusted sources\nAmerican Academy of Pediatrics family guidance (HealthyChildren.org) on breath-holding spells; CDC developmental and child-health resources; WHO child-health information.\n\n**Next step —** Worried about your child's spells? [Speak with a Pinnacle clinician for reassurance and a developmental check](/developmental-assessment).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-children-usually-outgrow-breath-holding-spells","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/do-children-usually-outgrow-breath-holding-spells","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"behaviours","label":"Behaviours"}],"meta_title":"Do Kids Outgrow Breath-Holding Spells?","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"During a spell, stay calm, lay your child on their side and keep them safe from knocks — do not shake, splash water or put anything in their mouth; they will breathe again within seconds.","published_at":"2026-06-10T14:16:00.221239+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"when-should-i-worry-about-breath-holding-spells-in-my-child","title":"When should I worry about breath-holding spells in my child?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-worry-about-breath-holding-spells-in-a-1-year-old","title":"Breath-Holding Spells in a 1-Year-Old: Should You Worry?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-worry-about-breath-holding-spells-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Breath-Holding Spells in a 2-Year-Old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-worry-about-breath-holding-spells-in-a-young-baby","title":"Should I Worry About Breath-Holding Spells in a Young Baby?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-a-frontline-worker-refer-a-child-showing-breath-holding-spells","title":"Breath-Holding Spells: Should a Frontline Worker Refer?","reason":"Same 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information"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T14:16:00.221239+00:00","meta_description":"Yes — most children outgrow breath-holding spells by age 5 or 6. Learn what they are, why they happen, and when to seek a calm medical check.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}