Snoring And Sheep Counting

When I think of snoring, I envision an overweight man having a sound competition with city noises. Of course this gender based stereotype is wrong since research indicates that women can just as easily be snores as men. Still the least likely candidates that come to my mind are children. Wait, children snore?

Similar to adults, children can either be occasional or frequent snorers. Sinus and allergy problems may cause a sporadic nasally slumber. However, statistics show that 5.6 percent of children are habitual snorers (Source: Pediatrics Nov, 2001). Like adults, children can snore because they are overweight, have sleep disorders such as Sleep Apnea, but sometimes they are just healthy kids. If they do have sleep apnea, it can be from enlarged tonsils or adenoids.

In the olden days, children were more likely to have their tonsils removed. The thinking behind that must have been “hey let’s put children through a painful procedure to avoid any miniscule chance that they will have throat problems down the line. At least they get ice cream!”

Today, children are still more likely to have surgery than adults who take longer to recover and have more pain. Plus if you tell a parent their child has low oxygen levels due to a sleep disorder that is suffocating them, that parent will be the first one in line to sign them up for surgery. Adults tend to think they are more invincible though, and the threat of death does not usually compare to a good guilt trip from a family member.

Now I know adults go into sleep clinics to get tested for sleep disorders, but what do children do? I found out that pediatric sleep clinics are harder to find unless you are in a huge city, but they do exist. I also wondered how they got children to fall asleep in a strange place that was not their bed. I guess they just put them to sleep!

If you or your child is not comfortable with the idea of being away from each other in a sleep clinic all night, then you can always try to record your child’s sleeping patterns with a tape recorder or video. Hold back the urge to try and diagnose the patterns yourself though, and leave it to the pediatric sleep specialist to analyze. A lot of studies are now looking at sleep disorders in children as being markers for behavioral problems. I think that most parents agree that when their children do not get enough sleep or miss that badly needed nap that the child becomes a whole different person.

For those who can go the non surgical route for their snoring child, here are some helpful healing methods. Only you know the position your child is sleeping when they start to snore, so try to prop them up with pillows. Antihistamines create a sedative affect that may relax the throat muscles so much that it causes snoring. Steer clear of this if your child is already prone to snoring. Another tip is pretty self explanatory. If you want to get rid of the symptoms of allergies or sinus problems, take a decongestant. This might help the child stop snoring. Saline nose drops or salt water administered before bedtime help to clear up the nose before its long passage into sleep. Breathing machines are also advertised to help airways remain open. This contraption should be age-appropriate, and might not work with children who move about while sleeping.

Helping your child have a good night’s sleep will help you rest easier at night yourself. There is one question that I will leave unanswered so that you may use your imagination. Can children count sheep and snore at the same time?