Snoring in young children can be caused by narrow nasal passages, blocked airways due to cold or allergies, poor sleeping position, excess weight, or sleep apnea. Treatment options include saline drops, decongestant medications, humidifiers, losing weight, and seeking medical advice.
The causes of snoring in young children are much the same as in adults. Narrow nasal passages, blocked passageways due to a cold or allergies, and poor sleeping position are all possibilities. In some cases, snoring may be due to excess weight, which can cause the airways to become narrowed. Sleep apnea may also be associated with snoring in young children, although this is less likely.
One of the most common causes of snoring in young children is narrow nasal passages. Young children naturally have smaller passageways than adults, and children don’t develop the ability to breathe through their mouths until they are older. This means that the snoring can develop until the passages widen as the child grows. Sometimes, due to the shape of the nose, the passages can remain extremely narrow for life. This rarely causes serious problems, but if breathing while sleeping is very difficult, surgery may be able to correct it.
Blocked airways can also cause snoring in young children. This can be caused by the common cold virus or allergies and is usually a temporary condition. Until the virus or allergy symptoms are gone, saline drops or decongestant medications can help ease your breathing. A steam rub or a humidifier can also help if stuffiness is caused by dry nasal passages.
Sometimes certain sleeping positions can cause snoring in young children. Sleeping on your back is one possible position that can cause your airways to collapse, thus making breathing more difficult. This is especially true for overweight children, as excess body fat is another risk factor for snoring. The extra weight causes extra pressure on the airways, thus making collapses more likely to occur.
Sleeping in a semi-upright position can help relieve snoring in young children. Overweight children should be encouraged to lose it through a healthy diet and exercise. If snoring persists, parents should seek medical advice for further evaluation.
Sleep apnea may be related to snoring in young children, although this is slightly more common in young children and adults. Newborns often come out of this condition before infancy, but this is not always the case. Apnea is the cessation of breathing for short periods during sleep and is often caused by the same underlying causes as snoring. If your nighttime snoring is chronic and not relieved by standard interventions, you should see a doctor or sleep specialist.
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