SIGNS that your baby is unwell will often be obvious – crying, restlessness, a temperature.
But if you notice they’re making a subtle head bobbing moment each time they draw breath, it’s a sign you need to get them seen to by a doctor as soon as possible.
Instagram / @tinyheartseducationIf your baby is making a head bobbing motion every time they breathe, that’s a sign they need to be seen by a doctor[/caption]
Instagram / @tinyheartseducationIt’s a telltale sign your baby is suffering from respiratory distress[/caption]
Instagram / @tinyheartseducationTiny Hearts Education shared the story of a tot whose parents rushed him to the hospital when they noticed his head bobbing[/caption]
Healthcare experts behind the baby and child first aid page Tiny Hearts Education shared a clip of a baby making a repetitive nodding motion with their head.
“If your baby is doing this, take them to a doctor,” they warned.
“This head boobing is a sign your baby is struggling to breathe,” the medics added.
In the accompanying caption to the video, Tiny Hearts health experts said the distinctive motion “is the body’s way of trying to help get more oxygen in”.
“So, if you see your child with this sign, bring them in for assessment.”
The tot shown in the clip was brought to hospital after his parents noticed the telltale head bobbing motion, and was admitted ‘straight away’, medics said.
“He declines quickly and needing breathing and feeding support,” they went on.
Doctors found that the baby was suffering from a collapsed lung and he was admitted into the Pediatric Intesive Care Unit.
The tot’s mum shared a warning to other parents: ” I honestly don’t know where we would be if we didn’t know what to look for.
“I dread to think what might have happened if we didn’t bring him in when we did.”
Tiny Hearts recommended parents save the video for future reference, so they can compare their baby’s symptoms to it.
Parents commented under the post to detail their own experiences of children showing signs of respiratory distress.
“My baby had this when she got respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at three weeks [leading to a] six night stay in the children’s hospital,” one mum shared.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that affects most children before the age of two.
It tends to cause mild, cold-like symptoms, but it can cause serious illness for some infants and older adults who might need to be hospitalised.
“This happened to my son at 10 months old,” another parent commented, referring to the head bobbing motion shown in the clip.
“I luckily have a great doctor who taught me these signs before it actually happened to my son.
“I called the ambulance and we were in and out of hospital for six weeks before he could breathe properly. It’s super important to not be fearful but to be aware when watching these videos.”
Other signs of respiratory distress
ANOTHER key sign that your little one is struggling to breathe is something called retractions.
They’re a telltale sign that your baby is in respiratory distress and could be having difficulty drawing enough air into their lungs, making their body work harder.
When you notice these in your little one, it means they’re using extra muscles to pull more air into their body – you’ll be able to see a visible sucking motion in places like they bottom of your tot’s ribs or the base of their throat when this happens.
Their breathing will also sound different too, as your baby might be making a grunting or wheezing sound.
There are four different types of retractions to keep an eye out for:
tracheal retractions – a tugging at the base of their throat
intercostal retractions – tugging between ribs
substernal retractions – tugging just bellow the centre of your little one’s chest
subcostal retractions – tugging at the bottom of the ribs
Asthma + Lung UK recommended you call 999 if your child has any of the following breathing-related symptoms:
Your child is having severe difficulty breathing
Your child is grunting with the effort of trying to breathe, their nostrils may flare in and out and they may be pursing their lips
The muscles under their ribs are sucking in with each breath
Fast breathing
Your child won’t wake up, or won’t stay awake
Your child’s breathing stops for 20 seconds or longer on one occasion, or there are regular shorter pauses in their breathing
They have very pale or blue skin, or the inside of their lips and tongue are blue
Fitting, if they have never had a fit before