After reviewing the literature on breath holding spells, it seemed desirable to determine whether any electroencephalographic abnormality is revealed by recordings during sleep in such cases. One hundred twenty-nine children between the ages of 7 months and 11½ years with breath holding spells were examined electroencephalographically while awake and during sleep. Seventy-seven of these children were boys and 52 were girls. All these children but one had normal electroencephalograms. One tracing taken during a breath holding spell is reproduced which shows slow wave but no seizure activity. The clinical diagnosis is discussed and it is concluded that the electroencephalogram in combination with the history and clinical observation is of value in the differential diagnosis between breath holding spells and convulsive disorders.