Q: My one year old daughter cries with so much pressure that she actually has to make effort to get her breath back. She actually went numb once for 3-4 seconds. The whole thing becomes really terrifying for us. Is this normal?

A:As per your description, these events appear to be Breath Holding Spells which, are seen in the age group of 6 months to 3 years. Most of these episodes occur when the infant is upset or cries suddenly and holds the first breath of the cry. Sometimes it may be associated or aggravated by iron deficiency. Make sure she consumes enough non-milk based normal diet and check with your paediatrician for any features of iron or calcium deficiency and need for supplements. She will gradually outgrow these spells.