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For free medical advice call Healthline 0800 611 116. Healthline provides a 24 hour, 7 days a week, over-the-phone health service. For emergencies call 111.  

If your baby or child is struggling to breathe, see a health professional urgently.

What might I see or hear if my baby is struggling to breathe?

  • fast breathing
  • sucking or pulling in under the ribcage
  • sucking or pulling in between each rib
  • using the muscles around the neck during breathing - this may look like your baby's head is bobbing up and down
  • flaring of the nostrils - the nostrils move out as your baby breathes
  • extra noises when breathing in or out or both

Pēpi who are struggling to breathe may not be able to feed as well or as long as they usually do.

If your baby looks blue, is very drowsy or has pauses in their breathing, dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for urgent medical help.

Caption and credit

A video of an 8-month-old baby who is breathing fast with flaring of their nostrils and pulling in under the ribcage.

Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)

What might I see or hear if my child is struggling to breathe?

  • fast breathing
  • sucking or pulling in under the ribcage
  • sucking or pulling in between each rib
  • using the muscles around the neck during breathing
  • flaring of the nostrils - the nostrils move out as your child breathes
  • extra noises when breathing in or out or both
  • so breathless they can only speak a few words at a time

If your child looks blue, is agitated or drowsy or can only speak one or 2 words, dial 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for urgent medical help.

Caption and credit

A video of a 2-year-old who is breathing fast and sucking or pulling in between each rib.

Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)

Caption and credit

A video of a 3-year-old sucking or pulling in between each rib (0:07) and using the muscles around the neck during breathing (0:18).

Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)

What noises can babies or children make when they are struggling to breathe?

Wheeze

Wheezing is a musical, whistly sound that tamariki make, usually when breathing out. It can also happen when they breathe in. The sound comes from the chest, not from the nose or throat. 

Caption and credit

A video of the sounds of an 8-month-old baby who is breathing fast - their head is bobbing and they are wheezing and sucking in under their ribs.

Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)

Stridor

Stridor is a harsh noise your child might make when breathing in. It can happen if your child has a condition like croup.

Croup In Children

Caption and credit

A video showing what a baby with stridor sounds like.

Source: KidsHealth video

Caption and credit

A video showing what a baby with stridor sounds like.

Source: KidsHealth video

Grunting

A grunt or a moan or a short sigh is a noise your child might make when breathing out. It can happen if your child has a condition like pneumonia.

Pneumonia In Children

Caption and credit

A video of an 8-month-old baby grunting and wheezing.

Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Rhiannon Giles for permission to share the video clips of her son Rowan.

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