Snoring in Children

Many parents are surprised to hear their child snore, especially if it happens regularly or seems unusually loud. While occasional snoring is common in children, frequent snoring can sometimes be a sign of an underlying sleep or breathing problem. Conditions such as allergies, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and sleep apnea may contribute to snoring and disrupt a child's sleep.

In this article, we explain the causes of snoring in children, when it may warrant medical attention, and what treatments may help improve sleep and breathing.

What Causes Snoring in Children?

Snoring in children is caused by narrowing of the airway. When air passes through a narrowed airway, nearby tissues begin to vibrate and cause the typical snoring sound. A variety of factors increase the likelihood of snoring and sleep-disordered breathing in children.

• Enlarged tonsils and adenoids: Adenoids and tonsils are tissues found behind the nasal passages and in the throat. Enlargement of these tissues due to infection or inflammation can restrict a child’s airway.
• Mouth and jaw structure: Features such as a high palate, small or recessed lower jaw, underdeveloped upper jaw, and misaligned teeth make snoring more likely.
• Allergies and congestion: Allergies, colds, and sinus infections can cause nasal congestion and inflammation, making it more difficult to breathe through the nose while sleeping. This makes a child more likely to breathe through their mouth and snore.
• Obesity: If a child has obesity, excess tissue can accumulate around the throat and reduce space in the airway.
• Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions can make it harder for the body to keep the airway open during sleep, including cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and conditions that affect the structure of the mouth or jaw.

Identifying the underlying cause of snoring in children helps a doctor determine the most appropriate treatment approach. 

Is It Normal for a Child to Snore?

People of all ages snore. Even babies snore. Up to 17% of children snore regularly, most often from the ages of 2 to 8. Occasional snoring in children may not be a cause for concern, particularly if it happens while a child has a respiratory illness, doesn’t persist over time, and isn’t accompanied by other health or behavioral issues.

Although childhood snoring is common, some signs may indicate a more serious underlying health issue. Parents and caregivers should consult with their pediatrician if a child has symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing, such as:

• Loud, persistent snoring
• Pauses in breathing during sleep
• Daytime tiredness
• Trouble concentrating or learning difficulties
• Falling asleep at inappropriate times
• Hyperactivity
• Behavioral issues, such as aggression, hyperactivity, or irritability
• Asthma that's difficult to control
• Bedwetting
• Restless sleep

More frequent or loud snoring may be a symptom of more serious disruptions in a child’s breathing linked to a group of conditions called sleep-disordered breathing. In these cases, doctors often recommend a sleep study to determine the cause and type of breathing disruptions. 

One type of sleep-disordered breathing, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 5% of children. Left untreated, OSA can affect a child’s health, growth, development, and the quality of their sleep.

How to Reduce Snoring in Children

Reducing snoring in children depends on the cause and severity of this symptom, so it’s important for caregivers to talk to a pediatrician. 

For occasional snoring related to congestion, parents and caregivers may try several steps to reduce snoring in children. 

• Flush the sinuses with saline: Neti pots or other nasal irrigation devices may be used to clear the sinuses of mucus. You can purchase sinus saline solutions from retailers or prepare a solution at home with distilled or boiled water and salt. Do not use plain tap water to make a nasal saline solution. 
• Use a humidifier or vaporizer: Breathing in a cool mist may help moisten the sinus passages and allow a congested child to breathe more comfortably. Use distilled water to fill the reservoir and be sure to clean the humidifier daily, following the manufacturer’s instructions. 
• Consider nasal strips: A common over-the-counter method to improve adult snoring, nasal strips adhere to the skin on the bridge of the nose and may open the upper airway. However, this treatment isn't well researched in children and should not be used before talking to the child’s doctor.

Sometimes, mild snoring without more serious breathing issues diminishes over time. But, depending on its cause, a healthcare provider may still recommend treatment for occasional snoring.

Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children

Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea depends on a child’s symptoms, age, and medical history. For children with mild to moderate OSA, doctors may recommend beginning by treating underlying health conditions, like asthma and allergies, and delaying additional treatment for up to six months to see if symptoms resolve.

When a child with sleep apnea needs additional treatment, several methods may be effective, including:

• Weight loss for children with obesity
• Changing sleeping positions
• Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy
• Surgery like a tonsillectomy, which removed enlarged tonsils
• Medications
• Oral appliances or orthodontic treatment
• Avoiding tobacco smoke
• Reducing allergens in the home
• Mouth exercises

Additionally, doctors often recommend improving a child’s sleep habits to combat the effects of sleep apnea. Sleep hygiene for children includes helping them stay active during the day, steering away from caffeine and large meals before bed, maintaining a consistent bedtime, and creating a relaxing nighttime routine.

When to Talk to a Pediatrician

Occasional snoring during a cold or allergy flare-up is common in children and isn't usually a cause for concern. However, parents should talk to a pediatrician if a child snores frequently, snores loudly, or experiences other symptoms that may suggest a sleep-related breathing problem.

Signs that warrant medical attention include snoring that occurs most nights, pauses in breathing during sleep, gasping or choking sounds, restless sleep, mouth breathing, bedwetting, morning headaches, or excessive daytime sleepiness. Some children with sleep-related breathing problems may also experience irritability, difficulty concentrating, behavioral changes, or problems at school.

A pediatrician can review a child's symptoms, examine the airway, and determine whether additional evaluation is needed. In some cases, a child may be referred to a sleep specialist, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, or undergo a sleep study to look for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.

Written by

Audra Sarver, MHS, PA-C, Contributing Writer

Audra is a licensed, certified physician assistant and freelance health writer. She has specialized in psychiatry since completing her clinical training in 2018. Her passion for writing was born from the desire to make complex medical information more accessible and understandable to patients and their loved ones. Audra likes to write about all things related to behavioral health and physical wellness.

Reviewed by

Gerard J. Meskill, MD, FAASM, Medical Reviewer

Dr. Gerard J. Meskill is a neurologist and sleep medicine physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea, and insomnia. He is board-certified in both neurology and sleep medicine and has extensive experience helping patients manage complex sleep conditions and disorders of excessive daytime sleepiness.