Should I Weep If My Child Snores During Sleep?

You hear your baby or child snore during sleep.

Are you quick to respond, “yes” when asked by the pediatrician if your child snores at night.

Or one of your children is complaining that a snoring sibling is keeping them up at night.

Should you as a parent worry about snoring? Are there possible short-term and long-term problems with snoring? Should you see the pediatrician when your child snores?

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Snoring in children is common – most kids will probably do it at some point. Some kids will snore when they are extra tired and getting deeper sleep. Some may only snore when sleeping in certain positions or when they are sick with a cold or other respiratory infection.

When do I as a pediatrician worry about snoring?

• If a child is gasping, catching, or holding their breath.
• Regular breathing through the mouth, less through the nose
• The nostrils of the nose moving in/out (called flaring) is a sign the child is working harder to breathe.
• If there are pauses inbreathing (called apnea) that last for more than a few seconds or happen several times a night.
• If there is coughing with the snoring
• If a child regularly wakes up from sleep due to snoring (or siblings aren’t getting a good night’s sleep)
• If the lips turn blue or the face becomes more red or white
• If there is fever, more drooling, and trouble moving the neck.
• In infants and babies, increased spit up, arching of the back, and more frequent crying are seen along with snoring.

For children who only snore “once in a while” and don’t have any of the above issues, then there is less of a concern. Of course, if there is any parental concern, call your pediatrician.

How can snoring affect my child’s health?

Snoring comes from a blockage of the upper airway (usually the nose, mouth, throat, neck, and vocal cord region). So, any newer onset snoring that is combined with illness, breath-holding, gasping, or lips/face turning color could be from a more serious problem. If any/all of these are found, immediately seek medical care.

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Prolonged nights of regular snoring can lead to other health issues:

• Abnormal development of teeth from repetitive mouth breathing
• Speech development issues
• Short and longer-term behavior issues (maybe in parents and siblings as well)
• Irritable, moody, and less flexible behavior due to sleep deprivation (something everyone who has been a new parent has experienced)
• Higher risk for accidents, injuries, attention-deficit issues, depression, and anxiety (kids who aren’t getting the right rest aren’t quite right physically and emotionally the next day)

RELATED TOPIC: Dealing with Depression and Anxiety

If you have a child who regularly snores, see your pediatrician.

If you have a child with teeth issues (likely early cavities), speech issues, or attention issues, see the pediatrician and HAVE A TALK ABOUT SNORING.

What can a pediatrician do to help snoring?

• In a baby or infant, look for signs of reflux (also known as “spit up”) where milk/formula and stomach acid come up into the throat.
• Changes in feeding/post-feeding positioning, thickening of feeds, and potential medications could reduce reflux and snoring (making everyone happier and better rested)
• In older children, more common causes of snoring include larger tonsils or adenoids in the back of the upper airway.
• A good physical exam and possible x-ray of the soft tissues of the neck may find airway narrowing.
• Consultation with an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat specialist) may be needed.
• My parental and professional experience with adenoid removal for snoring can lead to major improvements in sleep and behavior in the right patients.
• Chronic snoring can come from chronic nasal congestion from illness or environmental irritants/allergens.
• Testing can identify particular irritants and allergens.
• Changes in bedrooms and environmental exposures along with medications can make those chronic problems go away.

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• For children with more complicated snoring, a formal sleep study can identify ways to reduce airway blockage and improve sleep and behavior.

If snoring problems are creating sleep or behavior issues for your child (or siblings or you as a parent), don’t lose another night of good sleep.

ActiveKidMD is your partner for the health of your child- we routinely offer same-day and same-week appointments for expert pediatric and sports medicine care.  We want to partner with you at 714-974-2220 to help your child with snoring so your whole family can sleep and feel better!