Securely Attached9 Des 2025

Breath-holding spells in children: What's normal, what's not, and how to stay calm with pediatrician Dr. Caity Gilman

Pediatrician Dr. Caity Gilman joins me this week to unpack breath-holding spells, those frightening moments when a child turns blue or pale, goes limp, or briefly loses consciousness during intense emotion or dysregulation or pain.

Together we explore:

- The two types of breath-holding spells and what triggers each of them.

- Are certain children more prone to these episodes based on genetics, temperament, or other factors?

- What should parents do in the moment to keep their child safe, and how to know when it's time to call their pediatrician.

- What parents can do after a spell to comfort their child.

- Do these spells cause any long-term harm, or are they truly benign?

- How to support your child's emotion regulation and frustration tolerance between episodes.

If you're currently navigating breath-holding spells, or you simply want to feel more prepared for the unexpected moments that come with raising little ones, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance from both a pediatrician and a fellow parent who has lived this experience firsthand.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MY GUEST:

🔗 Dr. Caity Gilman

🎧 Listen to Caity's first episode about vaccine safety

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME:

🔗 drsarahbren.com

📱 @drsarahbren

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about what to do if your child is afraid of going to the doctor

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about temperament, personality, and parenting with Dr. Koraly Pérez-Edgar

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about helping "Big Reactors" learn to regulate and manage their intense emotions with Claire Lerner

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(444)

Picky eating, protein, food dyes, and nutrition myths: What parents actually need to know with Jennifer Anderson

Jennifer Anderson, registered dietitian, founder of Kids Eat in Color, and author of the new book Feed Them Well: A Guide to Raising Healthy, Confident Eaters for Life, joins me to help parents cut th...

8 Sep 58min

"Gentle parenting" isn't enough: Why kids need both emotional validation and boundaries with Dr. Siggie Cohen

Dr. Siggie Cohen, child development specialist, parenting expert, and author of the new book You Are the Parent joins me to discuss why so many parents today feel overwhelmed, second-guess themselves,...

1 Sep 56min

Back by Popular Demand: How to support your child's secure attachment even if you didn't grow up with it with Dr. Miriam Steele

25 Aug 50min

Q&A: What should I do if my child has intrusive thoughts?

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... What intrusive thoughts actually are. How to recognize when ...

20 Aug 33min

Child custody through divorce: Navigating the courts and building a custody schedule that works with Michael Fried

Michael Fried, a family law attorney at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein joins me to help parents navigating divorce better understand what to expect when it comes to child custody, how courts make cus...

18 Aug 52min

Q&A: How can I get my child to be potty trained at night?

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about... Why staying dry overnight is very different from daytime po...

13 Aug 18min

How to use music to strengthen your child's attachment, reduce stress, and create more moments of connection with Vered Benhorin

Vered Benhorin, music therapist and Baby in Tune founder, joins me to explore how music and connection can be powerful tools in your parenting toolbox. Together we explore: Why creating just a f...

11 Aug 45min

Q&A: Does my child have anxiety or are they just highly sensitive?

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about... Why some children seem to worry about everything, from strange noises to monsters u...

6 Aug 22min