Pet Breathing — Breathing App for Kids on Garmin

An alternative to bedtime battles.

Screen-free, science-backed breathing to help kids calm down — right from their wrist.

The day is done, but your child is still at 100%. Whether it’s post-practice jitters, school stress, or the classic bedtime “second wind” — finding the off switch is hard.

Pet Breathing turns a Garmin watch into a calming breathing exercise for children. An animated pet companion breathes on screen while gentle vibrations guide each inhale and exhale. Your child simply breathes along — no phone, no screen time, no distractions. Just a quiet tool on their wrist that helps them slow down and settle.

Available via the Garmin Connect IQ Store.

Who is it for

For the child who can’t switch off after football practice.

For the one who lies awake worrying about tomorrow.

For the bedtime routine that needs one less battle.

Why Pet Breathing Works

  • Zero Distractions: No games, no videos, no notifications. Just 1–60 minutes of focus on a device that stays on their arm, not in their face. Unlike phone apps, there’s nothing else competing for attention — boredom is the feature.
  • A Friend to Breathe With: Your child picks a pet companion to lead the way. As the pet’s belly gently expands and contracts, your child simply breathes along. It’s a breathing exercise that feels like play.
  • Guided by Touch: Gentle vibrations signal every inhale and exhale. Your child can close their eyes, snuggle into their pillow, and feel the rhythm of calm — even in total darkness.
  • Sleep-Ready Display: The red-shifted screen is optimised for evenings, minimising blue light to protect the natural sleep cycle. If they fall asleep mid-session, the app auto-saves and shuts off.

Meet the Pets

Cat – curious and bold
Dog – loyal and calm
Dino – brave and kind

Your child picks their favourite and it’s saved between sessions. Each pet breathes with a gentle red circle that expands and contracts on their belly — a simple visual cue that even the youngest children can follow.

The Science behind it

Built on the same foundations as the HRV Breathing app, Pet Breathing guides your child through Coherent Breathing (also known as Resonant Breathing) — a well-studied breathing technique where inhalation and exhalation follow a steady, calm rhythm at 5–6 breaths per minute.

At this pace, the heart and breathing naturally sync up, creating a state where the body can relax and recover more efficiently. This promotes balance in the autonomic nervous system, bringing equilibrium between the sympathetic (“accelerator”) and parasympathetic (“brake”) branches. The result is lower resting heart rate, reduced stress activation, and better emotional regulation.

For children, this translates into something simple and powerful: a calmer body and a quieter mind. Many notice a difference within just a few minutes — making it an effective part of a bedtime routine or a way to help kids calm down after a difficult day.

  • Symmetric Mode: Balanced inhales and exhales for general calm.
  • Longer Exhale: Toggle this mode when your child is especially wound up, restless, or in periods of sensory overload — a longer exhale can help the body shift toward calm.

How it Works

  1. Your child starts the app
  2. The pet’s belly expands and contracts — your child breathes along.
  3. Gentle vibrations mark each inhale and exhale, so they can close their eyes.
  4. When the session ends (or they fall asleep), the app saves and shuts off.

Use it whenever your child needs to slow down: after an active day, during quiet time, before bed, or when anxious thoughts won’t stop. Session length, breathing pace, type of pet and exhale mode can all be adjusted in Settings.

Simple enough for ages 4+. Powerful enough to become a lifelong self-regulation habit.

At a Glance

  • Three animated characters: Cat, Dog, and Dino
  • Vibration guidance for eyes-closed use in the dark
  • Flexible sessions: 1 to 60 minutes
  • Minimised blue light for evening and bedtime use
  • Symmetric or longer-exhale breathing modes
  • Auto-save if your child falls asleep
  • Character choice saved between sessions
  • Ages 4 and up

Screenshots

Get Pet Breathing

Available for Garmin watches via the Garmin Connect IQ Store.
A list of supported devices is available on Garmin.
Price: $2.49 (one-time purchase). No subscriptions, no ads.

Privacy and Use

Pet Breathing is quiet and private. It runs entirely on your child’s watch and does not collect or transmit personal data.

The app is intended for relaxation, recovery, and general well-being. It does not diagnose, treat, or prevent medical conditions.