Baby Snoring

When your partner snores, you may get annoyed, but a baby’s snoring may spark anxiety about how well they can breathe. Most babies have occasional noisy breathing. But is baby snoring normal?

Below, we’ll explain how many infants snore, what you can do to make sure they breathe and sleep well, and answer the question, “Why is my baby snoring?”

Is Baby Snoring Normal?

Baby snores can be normal. In fact, just about everyone snores sometimes. Some older research on babies under 6 months old showed up to one-third of them had some kind of noisy breathing during sleep. In a newer study, 3.2% snored regularly at 3 months old, and 3% still snored at 8 months old.

Baby breathing noises come in different types:

• Stertor: The classic snoring sound — anything from gentle humming to harsh rattling
• Stridor: High-pitched squeals, like air let slowly out of a balloon
• Wheeze: Lower in pitch than stridor, usually heard when breathing out
• Grunt: A short, low-pitched sound

If your baby’s pediatrician listens to their lungs, they may hear other sounds that can point to different issues. For example, crackles, which sound like a bunch of tiny bubbles popping, can mean infection or fluid buildup.

Why Is My Baby Snoring?

Most snoring happens because of a blockage in the upper airway (mouth and throat). Older children may snore because of enlarged tonsils or adenoids. But in a newborn baby, breathing tubes and passages haven’t finished developing and can collapse more easily, leading to noisy airflow.

Besides their soft airways, causes of snoring in babies can include:

• Sickness: Viral illness from the common cold or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause a runny nose and nasal congestion, which can prompt snoring.
• Parent snoring: Some research has found that babies have a higher chance of snoring if their parents snore.
• Cigarette smoke: If a baby gets exposed to secondhand smoke, their risk of snoring goes up.
• Down’s syndrome: Babies with Down’s syndrome snore more often than those without.

Experts have also found a connection between breastfeeding and a lower risk of snoring in childhood, but they aren’t sure how this applies to babies.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Infants

Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder, causes snoring and breathing pauses throughout the night, either from blocked airways or faulty brain signals. Less common in babies, sleep apnea in children happens most often between ages 2 and 6 years old. 

Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often have enlarged adenoids and tonsils, which partially block air from getting through. But sleep apnea in babies usually happens because of infections and airway problems at birth. 

OSA can cause difficulty breathing and snoring that sounds like loud gasps, but not all infants snore with apnea. If you think your baby may have sleep apnea, their doctor can do an assessment and order a sleep study if needed.

Baby Snoring vs. Laryngomalacia

Some infants have extra-soft breathing tubes — a condition called laryngomalacia. Babies who have laryngomalacia breathe noisily when they sleep, but this doesn’t mean anything’s wrong. 

Sometimes, babies have trouble sleeping and eating because of their softer airway, while others gain weight normally and show no negative effects. Laryngomalacia can cause newborn snoring that you may notice in the first few months after birth, but mild cases usually resolve on their own as your baby grows.

How Can I Stop My Baby From Snoring?

You may not be able to (or need to) stop your baby’s snoring, but you can try some home remedies to help create the best possible sleeping environment for them. For example, if they have congestion from a cold, offer plenty of breast milk or formula to keep them hydrated and use a cool mist humidifier to decrease congestion.

It’s also important to make your baby’s sleep space safe with these tips:

• Put your baby to bed on their back (not stomach or side).
• Lay them down on a flat, firm sleeping surface.
• Sleep in the same room with your baby for the first 6 months, but not in the same bed.
• Keep their sleep space clear of soft blankets, pillows, or toys.
• Avoid letting your baby come in contact with smoke or vaping chemicals.
• Don’t over-bundle your baby, which can cause overheating.
• Stop swaddling your baby once they start to roll over.
• Offer tummy time during the day.

When to Talk to Your Child’s Pediatrician

You can ask your child’s pediatrician for help anytime you have a concern or question about your new baby. If you feel concerned about your baby’s snoring, their doctor can help you get to the bottom of it.

Some breathing symptoms need attention right away. Call your doctor or go to your nearest emergency room if:

• Your baby is having trouble breathing
• You see their nostrils flare when breathing in
• Their skin pulls under or between their ribs when they breathe in
• They pull their head back when breathing
• You see a bluish tint around your baby’s lips

When you bring your baby to the pediatrician for snoring, they may ask how your baby is feeding and if their noisy breathing interrupts their sleep. They’ll listen to their lungs and check for symptoms that could point to any concerning causes of snoring, like severe laryngomalacia. 

Depending on what they find, they may ask you to keep an eye on it and let them know if your baby’s snoring gets worse. If treatment or more tests are needed, you can ask your baby’s doctor to explain how each treatment and test works and what you can expect.

Written by

Abby McCoy, RN, Contributing Writer

Abby McCoy is an experienced RN who has worked with adults and pediatric patients encompassing trauma, orthopedics, home care, transplant, and case management. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from St. Louis Univeristy and has practiced nursing all over the world from San Francisco, CA, to Tharaka, Kenya. She now writes health content for trusted health outlets like Everyday Health and Next Avenue.