WHEN TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S SNORING

Children can be active sleepers, prone to moving around the bed at night and making some noise. However, sometimes excessive snoring can be a sign of a deeper sleep issue.

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Most of us have woken up once or twice to the sound of snorts, rasps or snores coming from someone nearby. While occasional snoring is quite normal, if you begin to hear these noises coming from your little one’s bedroom regularly, it can be a concerning sign. Sometimes, if children catch seasonal colds or become inflamed from allergies, occasional snoring or heavy breathing through the mouth happens temporarily and passes after a night or two. However, consistent laboured breathing during sleep can be a symptom of something more going on - usually a medical condition called paediatric obstructive sleep apnea. Let’s dive into how to know when your child’s snoring might be a problem and what exactly paediatric obstructive sleep apnea is.

WHEN TO WORRY

As parents know well, little kids can be loud sleepers, with vivid dreams and plenty of movement being completely normal. It's worth saying that light snoring is also perfectly natural and not generally a cause for concern. In contrast, if your child or toddler snores heavily most nights and often snoozes with an open mouth or seems less refreshed than they should be during the day, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor to rule out a deeper issue like sleep apnea. The same is true if you notice your little one taking sudden gasps during their slumber or making any other sounds that seem like they are struggling to breathe, even intermittently. As a rule of thumb, it’s always unusual if your little one snores rhythmically, regularly or like an adult.

PAEDIATRIC OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA