When the Cry Stops Suddenly: The Spasm of the Sob Explained Clearly

On any given evening, a two-year-old suffers a tantrum because he is not given his favorite toy. He weeps disheartened, his face is tense, he lets out a loud scream... and suddenly he stops breathing. In seconds, his skin pales or takes a bluish tone, and his body falls without strength. For parents, this scene is terrifying, but surprisingly not dangerous in most cases. It’s the spasm of the sob, an involuntary reaction that usually occurs in c…