When you think back to the first time you heard your little one snoring, you probably couldn’t help but chuckle quietly at the cute and funny noises they made! But now that they often crawl into your bed in the middle of the night, only to begin snoring loudly, you’ll likely find the noise has become a little less cute and a little more annoying.

While almost all children snore from time to time, only 20% of kids snore frequently, and just 10% snore every night. But is it something you need to be worried about?

To help us understand what, if anything, can be done about snoring, let’s first discover what exactly causes this strange nighttime behaviour.

What causes snoring?

Snoring occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the throat relax and vibrate during sleep. This condition can be caused by a number of different things, from enlarged tonsils and adenoids to allergies and asthma to a bad cold.

The occasional bout of snoring isn’t a cause for concern and doesn’t require any sort of treatment. In fact, in the case of an occasional snorer, drawing attention to the habit might only make things worse by causing them to feel embarrassed and nervous about sleep.

However, certain cases justify seeking medical advice on behalf of your preschooler.

When do I need to speak to a doctor?

If any of the following symptoms apply to your child, we recommend that you discuss your child’s snoring with a medical professional, preferably an ear, nose, and throat specialist, as soon as possible:

Snoring almost every night

Snoring very loudly

Choking, gasping, or holding their breath during sleep

Sleeping restlessly

Breathing through the mouth

Sweating heavily at night

Regularly breathing through the mouth during the day

Frequently waking up with headaches

Waking up tired even after a good night’s sleep

If one or more of these symptoms describe your little one’s sleep pattern, it could be that they’re suffering from sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea refers to the stopping and starting of breathing as we sleep. It can be quite distressing for a parent to witness sleep apnea, as the child might stop breathing for as long as thirty seconds before taking a deep, noisy breath. Though it should be taken very seriously, sleep apnea isn’t generally life-threatening and can be treated.

The main causes of sleep apnea include enlarged tonsils and a narrow throat or airway.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to several rather serious health problems and significant sleep deprivation, so it’s important to speak to a specialist if your child displays symptoms.

There are several sleep apnea ‘cures’ for children. These include removing or reducing tonsils or adenoids, enlarging the air passage or holding it open during sleep, and weight loss (when the condition is caused by obesity), which your doctor will discuss with you if they feel they are appropriate treatments for your little one.

Should I be worried about my child’s snoring?

From our Toddler Sleep Journey, we share when to be worried about your child’s snoring.