This article tackles the subject of infant snoring. Is it a sign of a health condition or is it completely normal?
Although parents often find it concerning, infant snoring is normal. Babies often make snoring noises when they are breathing. Especially when they are asleep.
As with adults, infant snoring is only the noise produced by vibrations of the soft flesh in the airways.
Of course, if the snoring appears unusually loud or you simply need to set your mind at rest, you may want to discuss the matter with your family doctor or another suitably qualified healthcare professional.
Taking care of a newborn can entail quite a lot of stress. Night feeds, diaper changes, crying, etc., can all take a toll on the nerves. If getting a professional opinion about your baby’s snoring sets your mind at rest, it will be one less thing to worry about.
However, there may be other contributing factors. If your baby has other symptoms, it’s sensible to seek medical advice in case the snoring is a sign of something more serious.
Causes of Infant Snoring – Signs to Look Out For
As already stated, infant snoring happens when the soft tissues in the airways vibrate. As with adults, the muscles at the back of the throat relax during sleep. That’s why your baby may snore while sleeping but breathe normally while awake.
The nasal passages can also be the source of the snoring noise. An infant’s nasal passages are very small. Even a little dryness or mucus in their noses can cause them to snore or produce other noises while breathing. As they grow, the snoring/noisy breathing usually disappears.
However, there may be other contributing factors. If your baby has other symptoms, it’s sensible to seek medical advice in case the snoring is a sign of something more serious.
If your baby’s snoring is unusually loud, it could indicate the presence of a bent septum within the nose. Enlarged adenoids or tonsils are another possible cause of loud infant snoring.
The septum is a small piece of cartilage that separates the nostrils. Deviations of the septum are quite common during a baby’s first days after birth.
The results of one study suggest nearly 20 percent of newborns may have deviations of the septum but it’s an issue that tends to resolve itself over time.
Sleep apnea is another possibility. Experts are unsure about the prevalence of sleep apnea in infants but it’s a condition that affects one to five percent of children.
If your child has sleep apnea, the snoring will be accompanied by pauses in breathing, choking, or periods of gasping for air.
If your child has any breathing difficulties or other symptoms that are causing you concern, do not hesitate to seek expert advice.
Infant Snoring: Some Things You Can Do (Plus Something You Should Not)
Infants who snore may not get a sufficient amount of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is an important deep-sleep stage. When you don’t get enough REM sleep it can lead to fatigue.
In the case of infants, lack of quality sleep may also cause other problems including:
- Poor weight gain
- Night terrors
- Behavior resembling attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Fortunately, there are several steps parents can take to help their children to stop snoring and get the maximum benefit from their sleep.
However, it’s best to get the approval of a doctor before using nasal aspirators or nasal drops/sprays.
Nasal Drops and Sprays
Nasal congestion and blockages can often be remedied by using nasal drops. It’s a simple solution that can work very well.
Some companies produce nasal drops and sprays made especially for babies. Calpol and Snuffable are two of the most popular brands.
Nasal Aspirators
Nasal aspirators are another option you can use to clear the congestion in your child’s nose. They work by applying a slight suction to the nostrils that sucks out the mucous blocking the nose.
The cheapest options only cost a few dollars. They are very simple. You apply pressure to the bulbous section at the bottom of the aspirator and then slowly release the pressure while the tip is in your child’s nostril.
At the other end of the scale, battery-powered nasal aspirators often cost upwards of $30 and generally come with a choice of tips.
Room Humidifiers
Room humidifiers are another option available to parents looking for a way to tackle infant snoring.
If you have central heating, the air in your home may be drier than you think. As well as providing a warm, cozy home; central heating dries out the air.
The region you live in also comes into play. Some warm, dusty environments can have very dry air.
All that dry air can help clog up your children’s noses, causing them to snore.
Room humidifiers moisten the air. By providing greater humidity to the air your child breathes, they can prevent the nasal blockages that cause snoring.
Certain essential oils can provide additional benefits if you add a few drops to your humidifier’s water.
Eucalyptus, peppermint, menthol, and lavender are a few good options. All of them can help prevent nasal congestion. Lavender also has a soothing effect that may help your baby to sleep.
Take Advantage of Steam
Although it’s not as good as a room humidifier, it’s also possible to use steam to clear your baby’s airways. The easiest way to do this is to carry your baby into the bathroom, turn on the shower, using a warm temperature setting and, wait for the room to fill with steam.
When the steam gets into your baby’s airways it will help clear nasal blockages