We all adore our children all the time. However, few sights are more precious than watching as your adorable little ones finally drift off to sleep for the night. Even the most cantankerous toddler or defiant preteen is nothing less than angelic when they are asleep.
However, if your child snores, all might not be well. Snoring could be a sign of an underlying issue that may need medical intervention.
When to Be Concerned
Not all snoring is something to be concerned about. Light, gentle, infrequent snoring might simply indicate that your child has a slight cold or is a loud breather. However, chronic or very loud snoring might be cause for concern. Also, labored breathing, gasping, and prolonged periods of not breathing definitely warrant looking into further.
What it Can Lead To
Snoring is more than just a funny noise. It can lead to health and other issues. For example, kids who snore may not get the restorative sleep that they need to function properly during the day. This can lead to mood disorders, sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating.
All of this could cause your child’s school performance to diminish and lead to behavioral problems at school and home. Snoring can also cause hygiene issues. For example, snoring can cause saliva to evaporate, leading to bad breath. Also, because most snorers sleep with an open mouth your child’s mouth could dry out and increase their risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
Common Causes
Chronic snoring in children is typically caused by enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids. If this is the case you might have also noticed that your child tends to pick up more illnesses, as well. Other causes could be a deviated septum, an abnormally narrow nose, or severe allergies. All of these common causes of childhood snoring merit a visit to the pediatrician or ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor–otherwise known as an otorhinolaryngologist).
If your child snores more than a couple of nights each week, their snoring is loud, or their nighttime breathing seems labored, take them in. It is always better to be safe than sorry. You don’t want an underlying condition to go undetected. You also don’t want your child’s snoring to cause them long-term difficulties. Your child’s pediatrician will be able to determine right away if enlarged tonsils or adenoids are at play. From there, they can refer you to a pediatric ENT who is specially trained to get your child breathing and sleeping easily in no time!
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