If your baby or child is struggling to breathe, see a health professional urgently.
Signs that your baby is struggling to breathe
Signs that your baby is struggling to breathe may include:
- fast breathing
- sucking in under the ribcage
- sucking 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 widen as your baby breathes
- extra noises when breathing
Pēpi who are struggling to breathe may not be able to feed as well as they usually do.
If your baby looks blue, is very drowsy or has pauses in their breathing, dial 111 within New Zealand and ask for urgent medical help.
A video of an 8 month old who is breathing fast with flaring of their nostrils and sucking in under the ribcage.
Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)
Signs that your child is struggling to breathe
Signs that your child is struggling to breathe may include:
- fast breathing
- sucking in under the ribcage
- sucking in between each rib
- using the muscles around the neck during breathing
- flaring of the nostrils - the nostrils widen as your child breathes
- extra noises when breathing
- only speaking a few words at a time
If your child looks blue, is agitated or drowsy or can only speak a few words at a time, dial 111 within New Zealand and ask for urgent medical help.
A video of a 2 year old who is breathing fast and sucking in between each rib.
Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)
A video of a 3 year old sucking 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)
Noises babies or children can make when they are struggling to breathe
Wheeze
Wheezing is a whistly sound that tamariki make when struggling to breathe. Wheezing can happen if your child has an illness like bronchiolitis, asthma or viral wheeze.
A video of the sounds of an 8 month old who is breathing fast, head bobbing, sucking in under their ribs and wheezing.
Source: Rhiannon Giles (shared on KidsHealth with permission)
Stridor
Stridor is a harsh, high-pitched noise your child can make when struggling to breathe. It can happen if your child has a illness like croup.
A video showing what a baby with stridor sounds like.
Source: KidsHealth
A video showing what a baby with stridor sounds like.
Source: KidsHealth
Grunting
Grunting is a sound your child can make when struggling to breathe. It can happen if your child has an illness like pneumonia.
A video of an 8 month old 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.
