Toddler Snoring? Personally I’d never heard a child snore, but my wife knows a family that struggles with this issue. Their child consistently sleeps on his back and sometimes can snore quite loudly. At this stage, they haven’t seen any evidence that it is having a negative effect on the quality of his sleep, but it is a consistent worry. Especially now that more research has been done.
It has been known for years that snoring was a detriment to adult’s physical and mental health. Now, according to a recent study, it’s been shown that persistent, loud snoring in preschool aged children (2-3) has been linked to behavior issues, particularly depression, hyperactivity, and inattention.
Researchers say this is the first study to look at snoring and behavior problem in preschool children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued guidelines in the past telling pediatricians to screen for snoring in young children as it can also be a sign of serious illness.
Parents should monitor their child’s sleeping and if the child snores, ask the following questions: – Is the child snoring every night? – Is he or she snoring loudly? – Does the child gasp for breath? – Is the child restless? – Does the child have problems in school, due to fatigue? If the answer to some of these questions is yes, a pediatrician may need to evaluate the child further.
To read more about the study linking toddler snoring and behavior problems check out the August 2012 issue of Pediatrics.
