Is your baby's snoring a problem?

Mostly, excessive night waking is due to a disrupted circadian clock, and can be dealt with by applying the strategies we discuss in The Possums Sleep Program. But occasionally, a baby is woken repeatedly in the night by his own snoring. If your baby is snoring alot in the night, ask your local GP to assess him.

Catching a cold or viral infection blocks up nasal passages and makes your baby snore when sleeping. Some babies have a run of viral infections when they start daycare, or because older siblings bring home coughs and colds. You probably know from experience how viral infections really do interfere for a time with your baby's sleep! Thankfully, this passes within days. In my view, we are best avoiding 'snot removers' and nasal saline applications in babies.

Some little ones develop enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids over time, perhaps from repeated viral infections or for reasons that aren't clear. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids often interfere with easy breathing through the nasal passageways. That's when you hear snoring, as a pattern night after night. You might also notice your child breathes through his mouth when sleeping.

If this is the case, it's definitely time to see your baby's GP, who will make sure she doesn't have an allergic inflammation of the nasal passages. If your GP is concerned that your baby has a true adenotonsillitis, which hasn't resolved over time, then she is likely to refer you either to a sleep medicine service for sleep studies or to a paediatric ear nose and throat surgeon. Usually doctors wait until your child is 30 months or older before considering an adenotonsillectomy.

Even if it seems that snoring is the main reason for disruptions to your baby's sleep, I recommend making sure that his body clock is set to align with yours, as best you can.

Babies who are born with medical problems (like Down's syndrome, micrognathia, or cerebral palsy) might have sleep problems related to their medical condition. These little ones with special needs are likely to benefit from specialised sleep services. Even so, it is still helpful to understand how to keep your child's body clock aligned with your own, and to work through The Possums Sleep Program.

Selected reference

Chawla J, Waters KA. Snoring in children. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 2015;51:847-851.