Apnea of prematurity

Apnea refers to what happens when a child doesn’t breathe for more than 20 seconds.

• It is more common in premature babies than in full-term babies.
• The more premature the baby, the greater the chances of apnea.
• About half of all premature babies have apnea of prematurity.

How Children’s approaches apnea of prematurity

At Children’s Hospital Boston, we understand that it can be very scary when your baby stops breathing, even if she stops breathing just for a short while. We treat apnea through one of our childhood respiratory programs, such as the Center for Healthy Infant Lung Development (CHILD). At CHILD, we offer a comprehensive, team-based approach to maximize the growth and development of your child’s lungs. Our staff is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and we pride ourselves in how available we are to our families.