To begin with, is it normal for babies to snore? Yes. In most cases, it’s nothing to be concerned about if your baby snores or makes other strange noises while sleeping.
Make sure to let the doctor know if you have any worries about your baby’s breathing. In a very small percentage of cases, sleep apnea in babies is a possibility.
Keep reading.
Table of Contents
Why Do Babies Snore?
When the soft tissues in the throat are relaxed and the airway is covered, snoring occurs. This soft tissue starts to vibrate during the person’s inhalations and expulsions, which produces the snoring-specific sound. According to statistics, 1 in 10 kids snore, making it a relatively common problem. The good news is that, in most cases, there is no need for more drastic medical action if your baby snores. However, snoring in babies and young children is linked to some common risk factors. These include:
- Asthma
- Allergies
- A deviated septum
- Adenoids or large tonsils
- Throat infection
- Sleep apnea (a condition during which the breathing slows down and stops when sleeping)
It’s also critical to be aware of the typical newborn breathing rate before making assumptions. According to data, the frequency ranges between 40 and 60 times per minute. Of course, a newborn’s normal breathing rate can slow to 30 or even 40 times per minute while the infant is sleeping. The infant’s breathing pattern can also vary, and you might occasionally notice your child breathing rapidly several times before pausing for 10 seconds before starting to breathe normally again. All of these newborn breathing patterns are fairly typical. Consult a specialist like Ana M Hernandez for advice if you have any additional concerns about the growth and wellbeing of your child.
Sleep Apnea And The Signs
The term “sleep apnea” refers to a relatively common sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. This condition can occasionally be serious and even fatal. A person may have sleep apnea if they snore loudly and feel exhausted the following day. Unfortunately, babies and young children frequently lack the ability to discern between poor and good sleep. You can, however, look for some of the warning signs and symptoms that your child may have sleep apnea as a parent or legal guardian. Some of the signs include:
- Frequent snoring
- Very loud snoring
- Pausing or gasping while sleeping
- Sleeping with the mouth open
Please seek professional advice before assuming your child has sleep apnea. Given that, you might be wondering how to prevent a child from mouth breathing. You can instruct your child in proper breathing techniques in addition to consulting your pediatrician. Additionally, you can try to control potential allergies and thumb sucking.
Laryngomalacia And When To Worry
The common sleep disorder laryngomalacia can also affect a newborn. Facts state that laryngomalacia is characterized as an anomaly present at birth or in the first two weeks following birth. A voice box that collapses when a newborn with laryngomalacia breathes air in. In turn, this results in stridor or “noisy breathing” that can worsen when the newborn sleeps on their back or cries.
People frequently mix up snoring and laryngomalacia. However, the latter is more severe and the following symptoms typically accompany it:
- Sleep apnea
- Poor weight gain and challenges during feeding
- Inward pulling chest when breathing
- Cyanosis or skin discoloration due to lack of oxygen
When should you be concerned now that you are aware of what laryngomalacia is? The good news is that by the time the infant is 20 months old, 90% of cases resolve on their own without needing medical attention.
It’s crucial that you get medical help as soon as you can even though the exact cause of this disorder is still unknown.
Snoring is occasionally heard in newborns, yes. However, you absolutely must see a pediatrician for a checkup and appropriate care.
See more about Baby Sleeping With Mouth Open
Stuffy Nose In Babies And Snoring
There are a number of additional causes for your baby’s snoring, some of which don’t necessarily call for medical intervention. For instance, you will undoubtedly hear your baby snoring if they have a stuffy nose. Saline drops can aid in clearing the baby’s stuffy nose if you are certain that this is what is causing the baby to snore. The size of the nostrils will increase as the child matures and grows. Typically, the snoring issues will disappear as you age.
Additionally, you can use an infant nasal aspirator or a suction bulb if your baby has a stuffy nose.
Sleep Testing And Different Screenings
You should take your child to a specialist for screenings and sleep testing (also known as a polysomnogram), as we have previously stated numerous times. PFTs, or pulmonary function tests, are a few of these screenings, as are endoscopic examinations, swallowing and voice screenings, as well as CT and MRI scans and tests.
Babies and toddlers’ breathing is measured and any underlying conditions are found using infant pulmonary function testing, or iPFT. The good news is that the iPFT is performed while you are sedated if you have a fussy child and you are worried about this procedure. So your child will fall asleep and not be aware of anything. Your child can resume regular activities once he or she has recovered from the sedation.
How Can You Stop Your Baby From Snoring?
Regular snoring is usually nothing to worry about, especially if the cause is something transient, like a cold. However, if the window-rattling noise is making it difficult for you (or your child) to fall asleep, there are remedies.
- Lift the head of your young child. Only if your child is at least 18 months old and it’s okay for her to sleep with a pillow can you tuck a pillow under her head to help her breathe more easily. However, you should exercise caution because young children can use pillows as ladders to climb out of their cribs. Never put pillows or other soft bedding in the crib where babies are sleeping.
- Cut the congestion. Saline solutions and nasal aspirators can help clear mucus from your child’s nasal passages during colds and allergies so she can breathe more easily. You can also inquire with your toddler’s pediatrician about the recommendation for toddler-safe allergy medication if that doesn’t work to treat allergies. Never give your child any allergy or cold medication without first getting your doctor’s okay.
- Address potential allergy triggers. You might also attempt to get rid of allergy triggers from your child’s room. Allergen-free blankets and pillows should be used instead of down ones, and pets should be banished to another part of the house (sorry, Whiskers). Carefully vacuum the entire house.
- address the problem of air quality. Quitting smoking can reduce your child’s exposure to secondhand smoke and possibly make it easier for her to breathe at night if you or another household member smokes. Do you think your home’s air quality is to blame? Consider installing an air purifier in your child’s room, changing the filters in forced-air heating systems on a regular basis, and cleaning and vacuuming frequently to remove dust.
When To See The Doctor For Snoring
If your child snores for a few days while ill, congested, and suffering from a stuffy nose, there’s no need to call the doctor. However, it’s a good idea to consult a pediatrician if the snoring is persistent or appears to be bothering your child during the day.
Because nighttime snoring and the sleep loss it can cause can result in some behavioral and emotional problems during the day, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that all regular snorers undergo a health care provider screening.
You should touch base with the doctor if:
- Over three nights per week, your child snores.
- She appears to gasp or have difficulty breathing while she is asleep.
- During the day, she appears less alert or unusually worn out.
- She laments having a headache.
- She is finding it more difficult to focus.
Your pediatrician might refer you for additional testing, such as an overnight sleep study, if they think obstructive sleep apnea is the problem. From there, a pediatric sleep specialist can assist in identifying the root causes of the issue, such as obesity or enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and determine the most effective course of action.
Final Words
Many thanks for reading.