Respiratory Distress in Babies & Children
Know the warning signs. Act early.
"Breathing problems can become serious quickly. Parents and caregivers are often the first to notice."
This guide helps you recognise the warning signs of breathing trouble in babies and children, and explains when to seek urgent medical care.
Take your child for urgent medical assessment if you notice any of the following:
Fast Breathing
Your child is breathing much faster than usual for their age. Fast breathing can be an early sign of trouble — count the breaths in a minute when they are calm and compare to what is normal.
Working Hard to Breathe
- Skin pulling in between or below the ribs
- Tummy working hard with each breath
- Nostrils flaring with each breath
- Shoulder and neck muscles working hard
Noisy Breathing
- Wheezing (a whistling sound)
- Stridor (a harsh sound when breathing in)
- Grunting with each breath out
- Persistent noisy or difficult breathing
Changes in Colour
Lips or tongue become blue or grey, or the child looks pale or mottled. Blue or grey lips are an emergency.
Cannot Feed or Drink
Stopping often during feeds, sweating or exhausted while feeding, unable to breastfeed or drink, or vomiting after feeds.
Changes in Behaviour
Very restless or irritable, unusually sleepy, difficult to wake, or confused. Extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking is an emergency.
Pauses in Breathing
Your child stops breathing, has repeated pauses in breathing, or becomes blue and unresponsive. This is an emergency — get help immediately.
Not Sure?
When in doubt, bring your child in. Our acuteMed doctors can assess and treat breathing concerns.
Book AppointmentBabies Can Deteriorate Quickly
- Fast breathing
- Poor feeding
- Fewer wet nappies than usual
- Grunting sounds
- Chest pulling in
- Nostrils flaring
- Blue or grey lips/tongue
- Unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking
What Does Normal Breathing Look Like?
You should NOT see these signs when your child is well:
- No pulling in at the ribs
- Tummy moves gently, not working hard
- Nostrils stay still
- No grunting or wheezing
- Child can speak, cry and feed normally
Call for Emergency Help If…
- Lips or tongue are blue or grey
- Child is unable to speak, cry or feed
- Very sleepy, floppy or difficult to wake
- Stops breathing or has repeated pauses
- Breathing is rapidly getting worse
Do not wait to see if it improves.
While You Are Getting Help
Do
- Keep your child calm and sitting upright
- Stay with your child at all times
- Remove tight clothing around the chest
- Use their prescribed inhaler if they have one
- Seek assistance — call or go for help
Don't
- Do not force food or drinks
- Do not leave your child alone
- Do not delay because there is no fever
When in doubt, get your child assessed.
Many breathing problems are caused by viral infections or asthma and can be treated. But breathing trouble can worsen quickly — don't delay seeking help.