Is it normal for the baby to snore?

It is not normal for the baby to make any noise when breathing when he is awake or asleep or for snoring, it is important to consult the pediatrician, if the snoring is strong and constant, so that the cause of the snoring can be investigated and treatment can be started.

The sound of snoring occurs when there is difficulty with the passage of air through the nose and airways and usually occurs when the passage is narrower than ideal. Snoring can also be indicative of allergies, reflux and increased adenoids, for example, with the treatment being carried out according to the cause.

Main causes of baby snoring

The baby's snoring can be indicative of several disease problems, such as:

• Flu or cold; Increase in tonsils and adenoids, which are a kind of spongy meat that are located inside the nose. Learn more about adenoids; Allergic rhinitis, it is important to identify the cause of the allergy and eliminate it; Gastroesophageal reflux, which can happen due to gastrointestinal immaturity. See what are the symptoms and how is the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in a baby; Laryngomalacia, which is a congenital disease that affects the larynx and leads to airway obstruction during inspiration, causing the baby to breathe through the mouth and, consequently, snoring.

Sleep apnea can also cause the baby to snore and is characterized by the momentary stop of breathing while the baby is sleeping, which results in a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood and brain, which can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Learn all about baby sleep apnea.

Complications that arise from breathing through the mouth

Snoring causes the baby to spend more energy, as it has to make more force to breathe, which can lead to feeding difficulties. In this way, the baby can lose weight or not gain enough weight, in addition to delaying the development of the nervous system and motor coordination.

When breathing through the mouth, the baby may have more discomfort and pain in the throat, as well as easier to develop infections in the throat. In addition, when the baby breathes through the mouth, the lips are parted and the teeth are exposed, which can cause long-term changes in the structure of the bones of the mouth, which causes the face to be more elongated and the teeth are poorly positioned.

Treatment for baby to stop snoring

If the baby snores constantly even if he has no cold or flu, it is important that the parents take the baby to the pediatrician so that the cause of the baby's snoring is verified and treatment can be started. It is not always possible to identify the exact cause of snoring, but it should still be investigated.

The pediatrician can order tests that may indicate what may be making it difficult for the baby to breathe through the nose without any sound emission, thus indicating the necessary treatment.