Toddler snoring occurs when the soft palate and uvula (the little bell-like flesh which hangs down in the back of the throat) vibrate against the upper throat and tongue.

Colds, flus, and allergies are the most common causes of toddler snoring.  Their cute little noses become clogged, forcing them to breath through their mouths which in turn irritates the tissues in the back of their throats because of the added pressure.  You can alleviate these toddler snoring symptoms by doing your best to keep their noses clear and by using a humidifier.  Some people use cold medicines, but always consult your physician when it comes to toddler cold medicines and be aware this is not the safest route to take.

Some snoring toddlers do so because they have large adenoids and/or tonsils or because the adenoids and/or tonsils have become inflamed due to allergies or infections.  This can cause obstructive sleep apnea, a serious condition where the toddler stops breathing for more than 10 seconds while sleeping.  Having a deviated septum (a condition where the wall between the nostrils is severely off-center) will prevent your toddler from breathing correctly through their nose.  Fortunately, all of these conditions can be corrected through surgery.

Humidifiers and bulb syringes have always worked for my snoring toddlers to a certain extent when they’ve experienced colds, flus, or allergies.  Colds and flus eventually run their course, and when our toddlers have been sick, we have always gone through a difficult time trying to keep their nasal passages clear.  

Alleviating toddler snoring takes a lot of work as you’ve already seen but but at least we as parents can usually lessen our toddlers’ discomfort and get some good sleep ourselves in the process! 

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