Is Snoring in Children Dangerous?

Snoring is not just a condition seen in adults; it also affects children. But what exactly is snoring in children? How does it develop, and what are its causes at different stages of childhood? Children Snoring can range from harmless occasional episodes to a sign of underlying health issues such as obstructive sleep apnea, allergies, or enlarged tonsils. Understanding its causes and symptoms is essential for timely intervention. Join Snuggle Cubs in the article below to explore how snoring manifests at various ages, its potential impact, and the steps you can take to address it effectively.

Children and snoring

How Common is Snoring in Children?

Approximately 10% of children are estimated to snore, with 1-4% experiencing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition often linked to adults. While occasional snoring can be normal, consistent snorin - occurring four or more nights a week - should be addressed as it may indicate an underlying health concern.

Snoring Across Different Age Group

Snoring, regardless of age, can be a sign of underlying health issues. Identifying the causes and addressing them promptly is essential to ensure quality sleep and overall health. Parents and caregivers should monitor snoring patterns and seek medical advice for persistent or concerning symptoms.

Infant snoring (0-1 year)

Sleep apnea, a condition where breathing temporarily stops during sleep, is a significant cause of snoring in infants, often linked to enlarged tonsils or adenoids. This can sometimes be treated surgically. Approximately 3% to 9% of infants snore regularly by three months of age. While snoring in babies may occasionally be harmless, it can also indicate serious medical conditions, especially if accompanied by unusual symptoms. Causes can include airway structure, environmental factors, or congenital conditions like Down syndrome. Parents should consult a doctor if they notice persistent or concerning snoring.

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Snoring in toddlers, while often normal, can sometimes signal underlying medical issues. It usually occurs due to disrupted airflow from the nose or mouth to the lungs, often caused by colds, allergies, or blockages. Persistent and loud snoring may suggest a health problem, such as sleep apnea, requiring immediate medical attention. A pediatrician may recommend seeing an ENT specialist for further evaluation.

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

In preschoolers, snoring may result from enlarged tonsils and adenoids or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), characterized by airway blockages causing pauses in breathing. This condition often leads to loud snoring, restless sleep, and daytime fatigue. Allergies and chronic sinusitis can exacerbate snoring in this age group. Parents should monitor for symptoms like gasping for air or breathing pauses during sleep and consult a healthcare professional if these are observed.

School-aged Children (6-12 years)

Snoring in school-aged children is often linked to obesity, chronic sinusitis, or allergic rhinitis, which inflame and block the upper airway. Poor sleep habits or awkward sleeping positions can also contribute. Chronic snoring at this stage may disrupt sleep cycles, leading to cognitive and behavioral issues. Structural factors like narrow nasal passages or throats may also play a role. Addressing lifestyle factors and seeking medical advice for persistent snoring is crucial.

Teenagers (13-18 years)

In teenagers, snoring is often caused by a combination of lifestyle and structural factors. Being overweight is a primary risk, as excess tissue around the neck can obstruct breathing. Poor sleep habits, such as irregular schedules or staying up late, also contribute. Structural issues, such as a deviated septum or enlarged tonsils, can worsen snoring. Persistent snoring in teens may indicate sleep apnea, which can impact academic performance, mood, and overall well-being, warranting professional evaluation.

Is snoring in children different to snoring in adults?

Baby snoring differs from adult snoring in several important ways, especially in terms of its causes and effects. Below are the key distinctions:

>>> For more insights on this, explore our post on: 18 Month Sleep Regression: Causes, Signs, and Solutions

Is Snoring in Children Dangerous?

Snoring in children, while often linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), can have significant consequences:

• Sleep Disruption: Snoring, especially due to OSA, fragments sleep and prevents children from reaching the deeper sleep stages necessary for growth and development. This results in poor-quality rest.

• Cognitive and Behavioral Issues: Snoring can impair concentration, memory, and learning, sometimes mimicking attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Hyperactivity, impulsivity, and struggles with school performance are common signs.

• Daytime Fatigue: Poor nighttime sleep caused by snoring often leads to daytime tiredness, affecting mood, behavior, and participation in daily activities.

• Growth Challenges: Interrupted sleep reduces the release of growth hormones, which are most active during deep sleep, potentially stunting growth in heavily snoring children.

• Cardiovascular Risks: While mild snoring is often asymptomatic, severe cases can contribute to high blood pressure and strain on the heart, increasing the risk of future cardiovascular issues.

• Emotional and Social Impact: Poor sleep can cause irritability, mood swings, and emotional outbursts. Socially, children may struggle to form friendships due to stress and fatigue.

• Obesity Risk: Sleep disruptions alter hunger-regulating hormones, leading to overeating and a higher likelihood of obesity.

What Can Help Reduce Snoring in Children?

However, if you notice any of the following warning signs, you should consult your child's doctor, as their snoring may be the result of a more serious condition.

- Your child snores almost every night.
- You hear pauses in their breathing or labored breathing.
- Their snoring is unusually loud.
- They do not feel rested after waking up.
- Daytime fatigue or exhaustion.
- Late onset of bedwetting.
- Frequent headaches.
- Obesity.
- Difficulty concentrating, learning, or focusing.

Some of these symptoms may be signs of sleep-disordered breathing or sleep apnea. In the long term, these symptoms can not only worsen the quality and quantity of your child's sleep, but also negatively affect their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

The first step in helping your snoring child is to talk to your doctor or pediatrician. A doctor will not only be able to determine if your child has any health problems, but will also recommend further tests and next steps to make a definitive diagnosis. In some cases, the next step may be measures you can take at home or lifestyle changes your child can make to reduce snoring.

In other cases, the next step may be a referral to an ENT doctor (or ENT specialist) or possibly a sleep study. Once a diagnosis has been made, you, your child, and your doctor can begin to choose the best treatment options. Lifestyle changes or treatment options for your child's snoring may include one or all of the following.

Snoring in children treatment

Treat all causes of acute snoring

If your child snores due to an allergy, cold, or flu, consult your doctor to clarify how best to treat the symptoms that normally accompany these illnesses or conditions. One of the advantages of air purifiers, for example, is that they eliminate allergens that may be present in the air. Therefore, it may be helpful to install an air purifier of this type in your child's bedroom. 

By learning about home remedies for allergies or medications that can relieve associated inflammation, you can eliminate your child's snoring quickly and easily.

Weight control

Being overweight is a common factor that causes sleep apnea, and weight gain is also associated with sleep apnea as a symptom. If you or your doctor believe that being overweight may be the cause of your child's snoring, you can try some measures recommended by your doctor to help your child control their weight.

Changes in sleep hygiene

Sleep hygiene includes everything you and your child do to ensure better sleep. If your child snores so loudly that you notice a difference in the quality of their sleep and an impact on their daily habits or energy level, you can make small changes to their sleep hygiene to improve the quality of their sleep.

First, make sure your child has a regular sleep schedule. A regular sleep schedule is important for everyone, but especially for a child who snores, as excessive tiredness can cause snoring. In addition to maintaining a regular sleep schedule, do everything you can to create a quiet, cool, and comfortable sleeping environment.

Have your child sleep on their side

To minimize your child's snoring, you can encourage them to sleep on their side (if they are old enough to follow instructions). If your child is too young or to facilitate this process without having to constantly monitor them, try sewing a tennis ball onto the back of their pajamas. This will prevent them from turning over unconsciously.

Raise your child's head

Raising your child's head while they sleep is a great way to prevent their tongue from sliding to the back of their throat, causing a blockage or narrowing of the airway and leading to snoring.

Ideally, you should raise the head of the bed by 4 to 6 inches. You can do this by raising that part of the bed using bricks or a wooden platform. If your child is old enough to sleep safely in a bed, you may want to consider purchasing an adjustable bed.

Placing pillows under the head does not usually achieve the desired result. If you want to raise your child's head with a pillow, try using a wedge-shaped pillow specifically designed for children.

Surgery

Tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy are often performed in children with severe sleep apnea and may be a treatment option depending on the severity of your child's snoring. With this treatment, surgeons remove the tissue that blocks your child's airway during sleep. In many cases, tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy reduce snoring with reasonable success.

However, it is important to know that the child will need time to recover. The recovery process after surgery for sleep apnea can be difficult for young children.

Anti Devices for Snoring in Children

Snoring can impact a child’s sleep quality and overall health. Specially designed anti-snoring devices for children can effectively help reduce or eliminate snoring.

CPAP Machines: For children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a CPAP machine delivers steady air pressure through a mask worn during sleep, ensuring the airway remains open.

Nasal Strips or Dilators: These devices widen the nasal passages, improving airflow and reducing snoring, particularly in cases of mild nasal congestion.

Oral Appliances: Custom-fitted dental devices help reposition the jaw and tongue to keep the airway open. These are useful for children with mild OSA or structural causes of snoring.

HEPA Air Filters: Installing air filters in the child’s bedroom minimizes airborne allergens, improving breathing and reducing snoring.

Bedding and Room Cleanliness: Using hypoallergenic pillows and mattresses, along with regular cleaning, helps control allergens and reduce nasal congestion contributing to snoring.

>>> You might be interested in: How To Put A Toddler To Sleep In 40 Seconds?

Conclusion

Snoring in children can vary from being harmless to signaling an underlying condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea, allergies, or enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Identifying the cause early is essential for effective treatment, which may include lifestyle adjustments, medication, or surgery. For more helpful insights, visit Snuggle Cubs, or explore sleep improvement devices at CPAP Discount Warehouse.