Physicians can sympathize with these parents because it's often not an easy call, especially for new parents who don't know their child's habits and quirks yet. But if spitting up is associated with prolonged choking and red color, it needs to be checked out. But pauses that last longer than a few seconds, or are multiple or frequent, are not normal. I tend to be conservative on this, and recommend that the parent call their pediatrician if in doubt. Some signs that suggest a serious event are any change in color, particularly turning blue, a profound or marked limpness, prolonged lethargy and a repetitive, unusual movement.
Normal infants have periods where they are more active or less active.
If the pattern starts to look markedly abnormal, that's the time to get attention. New parents can easily be alarmed if their baby suddenly goes stiff for a second in its sleep or makes a jerky motion. But Dr. King says young babies make a lot of odd movements, and it's normal for an infant to be stiff for a second. What would not be normal is stiffness that lasts for more than for a few seconds or a movement that seems to repeat itself like going stiff, repeated blinking, sticking out the tongue or a repeated pedaling movement with the feet. He says those movements are generally not normal, they could represent seizure and should be evaluated.