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What should I do if my baby is struggling to breathe or pauses breathing?

Call 911, or your local emergency number, now if your baby is struggling to breathe or has paused breathing. Breathing that is irregular, paused or a visible struggle is an emergency sign at any age, and a pause of more than 10 seconds counts even if the breathing is normal again.

Call 911 (or your local emergency number) now if your baby:

  • Pausing when breathing, or irregular breathing
The sign, the threshold and who says so
SignThresholdActionSource
Pausing when breathing, or irregular breathingAnyCall 999 or go to A&E (UK)NHS
Breathing stopped, and is now normal againMore than 10 secondsSeek care now (AAP); this page says call 911AAP

What the sources say

pausing when breathing, or their breathing is irregular

NHS (UK)When to get urgent medical help for babies and children under 5Page date: August 6, 2026Checked on October 23, 2026

Breathing stopped for more than 10 seconds and now it's normal

The AAP files this under its call-now category. The NHS files paused or irregular breathing under 999, and this page uses the earlier action.

AAP / HealthyChildren.orgSymptom Checker: Newborn Reflexes and BehaviorPage date: undatedChecked on October 23, 2026

At 3 AM

Call first. If the baby is not breathing at all, stay on the line and put the phone on speaker: the person answering will tell you what to do while help is on the way. Follow them, not this page.

If you are counting a pause, count out loud. Ten seconds is longer than it feels at 3 AM, and saying the numbers keeps the count honest.

Have these ready: the baby's age in weeks, what the breathing looks and sounds like right now, how long any pause lasted, and whether the lips or face changed colour at any point.

Later, the log answers the questions that follow: the last feed, the last wet diaper, any fever, any medicine, and when the change in breathing started. Note the start time now only if you can do it without taking your eyes off the baby.

Where the sources differ

The AAP's symptom checker files a breathing pause of more than 10 seconds that has since returned to normal under its call-now category. The NHS files irregular or paused breathing under 999. This page follows the earlier action, call 911 now, which is also what the app's When to call a doctor page does.

You know your baby best. If you think something is seriously wrong, get help now.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried, call your pediatrician.

The same list, with the same sources, is one tap away on the free When to call a doctor page in Baby Tracker for Dads.

Written by The Baby Tracker for Dads teamChecked on October 23, 2026Medical review: pending. Every number on this page is quoted from the AAP, CDC or NHS; the links are above.