Appliance Snoring Article

Snoring in Toddlers

Infants occasionally snore when the nasal secretions in their throats clog tiny and immature air passages which causes the vibration. As the baby matures and the air passages mature and widen, the episodes of snoring should lessen and be gone by the sixth month of life.

Toddlers who snore due to colds, allergy, or flu have occasional snoring which is also normal to deal with. It is only occasional snoring. But, if snoring in toddlers becomes a common occurrence, it could be a condition called sleep apnea.

A significant sleep disorder, sleep apnea is caused by enlarged adenoids which are glands in the palate which blocks the air passages and affects half a million US children each year. Sleep apnea causes difficulty for your toddler’s breathing during their sleep and is characterized as a ten second pause in breathing during sleep. Because the toddlers with sleep apnea tend to wake up several times in a night, the sleep apnea causes a lack of energy during the day time—the toddler’s active period. Irritability and crankiness may present as behavior problems.

Poor retention of memory, poor mental health and learning problems at pre-school age are all long-term effects of inadequate sleep. According to experts, ages three to six are the period when snoring becomes dangers to the development of the child. Treating snoring at this age will result in tremendous improvement in behavior patterns and learning capability.

If you hear snoring in your toddler and suspect that sleep apnea may be indicated, it is vital to pay a visit to the child’s pediatrician. The doctor can evaluate physical characteristics of the child’s adenoids and tonsils which may be causing the syndrome. Outpatient surgery to remove enlarged tonsils may be used to correct the condition and reduce the occurrence of snoring.

As a home remedy when toddlers snore, even if snoring is caused by sleep apnea and shifting them to a different sleeping position may be helpful. Youngsters will sleep better on their sides or stomach and special pillows may help to alleviate the snoring condition in youngster.

A child who snores is not getting enough restful sleep to provide maximum health either in the physical or mental growth during the prime development stage. You should never ignore the child’s snoring. If shifting the child’s position and placing a pillow in place does not alleviate the snoring, it’s time to seek medical advice.