Silence the Snoring in Your Toddler
It is very common among babies to notice snoring. Typically this is caused because sometimes there is a clog in their passage ways or even have nasal drainage leaking into their throats. However, you will usually notice a complete turnaround by the time the child reaches about six months of age.
It is also normal to find that your toddler also snores. There can be a few causes for this. Generally, snoring in toddlers is caused by a cold or the flu. Although, the snoring should stop when the child is feeling better. If by chance, you notice the child is not sick and still snores, he or she might be suffering from sleep apnea.
When a child's adenoids become enlarged they can cause a blockage to the airways. This is often described as an interruption in the breathing patterns for about ten seconds or so, during the sleep. This can cause a toddler to have problems staying asleep and cause them to snore as well. A sign that your toddler might be suffering from sleep apnea is after a nap or sleep, he or she is very cranky and seems to be miserable.
Some of the longer term effects sleep apnea might have on your toddler are poor health, such as your child might seem to come down with every cold and flu that is going around. He or she is going to be more susceptible to coming down with colds and the flu because without the right amount of rest, the immune system begins to weaken. Limiting its effectiveness of fighting against the germs that cause colds and the flu. He or she might also begin to have problems remembering things, learning at an average rate as well as being easily irritated. If your child begins showing any of these signs around the ages of 3 years old to 6 years old you should notify the child's pediatrician. This is the best way for you to help your child in overcoming the sleep apnea, and conquering the side effects.
When you meet with the pediatrician, you can expect him or her to first check your child's adenoids and tonsils. This is to determine if either or both are the cause for the snoring. It is possible, if they are enlarged for the pediatrician to recommend having surgery to remove the tonsils. After the surgery, you should notice a drastic change in the snoring as well as the mood of your child after sleeping.
Some children do not need to have surgery to stop snoring. In several cases, just changing the way the child sleeps will stop him or her from snoring. Try keeping the child from sleeping on his or her back. Usually, if you can gently change the child's position to their side, the snoring will almost immediately stop. If that doesn't work, try switching him or her to their belly. Whatever is more comfortable for him or her, other than the position that causes the snoring.