Infant Breathing Difficulties
84
Any kind of breathing difficulty your infant or child experiences can be a scary time for parents. Infants have some common unusual breathing patterns that may or may not be true problems, so it is important to figure out what is really a difficulty caused by illness and what is not. Knowing what to expect and when to call the doctor can help you assess what to do when you suspect breathing difficulties.
- Infant Breathing - What Might be Problems
All the childcare manuals and classes in the world won’t prepare you for the joy and worry of the first night home with a new baby. You realize then that you’re on your own, and that can be an... - Infant Breathing Porblems - Wheezing and Asthma
Any breathing problem your child has can be scary, and in infants, even more so. If you have a family history of asthma, you may be concerned that your infant will develop it, too. While it is important... - Infant Breathing - How to Protect
You want to do everything you can to keep your baby happy and healthy once you get him home from the hospital, and a large part of that is protecting his breathing. That isn’t always easy, but there are... - Infant Breathing - How to Stop Worrying
Your new baby doesn’t do much but sleep, eat, and require diaper changes, and that is exhausting enough. Since your baby cannot tell you whether he is okay, you rely on observation to determine if all is... - Infant Breathing - Breastfeeding and Asthma
Breastfeeding has many benefits for mothers and babies. Once breastfeeding is established, it is a method of feeding that requires no special preparation or clean-up, is a perfect source of nutrition for... - Infant Breathing - Croup
Infant breathing problems can cause major concern for parents, and for good reason: what seems like a “regular” cold can escalate into other problems quickly, so vigilance and knowledge are important... - Infant Breathing - Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Parents have plenty to worry about, and infant breathing is high on the list of parental concerns. Even perfectly normal infant breathing can sound irregular and peculiar, with its squeaks and whistles.... - Infant Breathing - Noises
For parents, there is something so soothing and reassuring about watching their baby sleep. The small jerks and reflexes, the “sleepy smiles,” the rhythmic sound of baby’s breathing are compelling and...
Newborn to 2 Months
Pediatrician William Sears offers some terrific guidelines on his website to help you assess your infant’s breathing. The first step in figuring out what is going on is to determine if the breathing difficulties are coming from the nose or chest.
Most babies have a stuffy nose for the first several weeks of life. This stuffiness may interfere with sleeping and feeding, and is a concern for parents, but is usually harmless. Some things you can do at home (and do call your pediatrician for more help if needed) is to squirt nasal saline or breast milk into the nose and then use a bulb syringe to suction the nose.
You can find saline spray at the drugstore, and you probably took a bulb syringe home with you from the hospital. Sometimes this syringing can make the baby cry, causing more congestion, however.
Saliva and regurgitated milk can cause chest congestion. Try holding your baby upright and letting him sleep upright in your arms or in a carseat so that the congestion can drain. It is also common for newborns to have panting or rapid breathing, which is disconcerting to parents, but if it comes and goes and your baby has no other signs of illness, should not be a cause for worry.
Labored breathing can mean your baby has a serious respiratory illness. If your baby is truly wheezing – that is, he has a caving in of the chest and labored breathing that persists for hours in spite of being in an upright position, your gently clapping him on the chest, or exposing him to steam -- then call your doctor.
Infant Breathing
|
Graco Ultra Clear II 49mhz Baby Monitor
Price: $23.00
List Price: $39.99 |
|
Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 1.8" Screen - Silver
Price: $119.99
List Price: $179.99 |
|
Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym
Price: $46.95
List Price: $59.99 |
|
Philips Avent Basic Baby Monitor w/ DECT Technology
Price: $85.40
List Price: $119.99 |
Breathing Difficulties in Infants and Children
Infants and toddlers experience breathing difficulties that may or may not be related to illness. Regardless, they are frightening for parents, but knowing some causes and solutions can help alleviate the fear factor.
A hoarse voice and labored, raspy breathing and a bark-like cough with fever probably mean your baby has croup. Croup is a common viral respiratory illness that usually doesn’t require an emergency visit to the doctor, but warrants close observation to be sure that breathing problems don’t become severe.
Audible wheezing and labored, rapid breathing in the absence of the signs of croup may mean pneumonia, so check with your doctor regarding treatment.
A high-pitched sound when your child exhales and labored breathing may indicate asthma, so check with your doctor to determine what to do.
If your child has not been diagnosed with asthma, then you may find that turning on the shower and letting the bathroom get steamed up, then holding him upright in the steamy room while clapping him on the back and chest will help relieve his breathing.
Check with your pediatrician for expectorant dosage and whether it is advisable. If you cannot provide relief for your child’s labored breathing by trying these at-home methods, taking your child to an urgent care or emergency department is advisable since there may not be much your doctor can do to assist via telephone.
Watch and Be Prepared
Knowing what to do in the short-term to assist with your baby’s breathing can help alleviate some of the worry inherent in infant breathing problems. Try to assess what is going on, whether it is caused by illness or is a “normal” breathing change, and be ready to take your child for medical attention if necessary.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
my son is almost 6 months old and this morning we awoke to him making a speratic fast breathing sound. It sounded like he had just stopped crying for a while and just couldnt catch his breath..but was sound asleep. When i woke him up it took about 10 min. for it to subside and was back to normal and has been the rest of the day. any comments will be appreciated.
- How to Get Around With Two Children
Some parents find themselves carrying another special addition to the family shortly after one has arrived. Dealing with everyday situations with one baby can be difficult, but with a baby and a toddler, or even twins, you know you've got your hands full. There are a number of products out to make life that little bit easier for parents, and a twin stroller is one of them. - 15 hours ago
- Selecting a Playpen on Price
Selecting a playpen on price alone is a common mistake made by many parents out there. Few realise that it can be a bad thing for a number of reasons and can even in the long run end up costing you more than if you had brought the more expensive one to start with. The problem with cheap playpens can be quality. - 15 hours ago









tracy elkins says:
15 months ago
my one year old son always has his tounge out and pants but he seems perfectly healthy should i be concerned?