Baby snoring in the early weeks of his birth is a normal condition. However, you also have to stay alert, because this can be a sign that your little one has a health problem. Come on, Bun, know what are the dangers and risks of baby snoring, here are the steps to prevent it.
Newborns who are sleeping usually breathe while making noises or snoring. This is because the baby's respiratory tract is still narrow and contains a lot of mucus.
Air through the respiratory tract containing mucus will produce sound vibrations in the respiratory tissue, resulting in snoring or snoring sounds.
The baby's snoring sound will usually disappear when the respiratory tract is fully developed and when he is able to swallow saliva.
Recognize the Signs of a Troubled Snoring Baby
Mothers need to be more vigilant if your little one is still snoring when he is 6 months old or more. Baby snoring at this age may be caused by the following disorders:
Respiratory tract irritation
Respiratory tract infection or ARI is a disease that occurs due to infection in the upper respiratory tract. This infection can occur in the nose, throat, sinus cavities, and vocal cords (epiglottis).
ARI diseases are generally caused by viral infections, such as rhinovirus, adenovirus, coxsackie, parainfluenza, and RSV. In certain cases, ARI can also be caused by a bacterial infection.
Oblique nasal septum (septal deviation)
The septum is the bone that provides the insulation for the nose and divides the nostrils and nasal passages into two parts. If the septal bone is tilted to one side, this condition will cause obstruction of one of the airways. The condition where the nasal septum is tilted to one side is called septal deviation.
A deviated septum can cause the baby to breathe through only one nostril and make a snoring sound when he breathes.
Laryngomalacia (laryngomalacia)
Laryngomalacia is a disorder in the process of forming cartilage tissue in the baby's larynx or throat. This condition causes the baby's larynx to become weaker and partially block the airway.
Laryngomalacia makes babies exhale loudly and snore during sleep. When the baby inhales, you will see a hollow in the neck above the curve of the breastbone.
Laryngomalacia in infants usually will gradually disappear when he is over 2 years old. However, in severe cases, laryngomalacia can cause eating disorders and difficulty breathing or problems with breastfeeding.
In such cases, the baby may need to get a breathing apparatus and undergo reconstructive surgery.
Sleep apnea or sleep apnea
Premature babies or babies born with low birth weight are more at risk of various health problems, for example sleep apnea or sleep apnea. This is because the brain stem that regulates breathing has not been formed and functions optimally.
Other conditions, such as congenital abnormalities in the respiratory tract to gastric acid reflux, can also be a cause of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes sufferers to stop breathing for 15–20 seconds while sleeping.
Therefore, sleep apnea in premature infants needs to be treated quickly so that it does not adversely affect their health.
Swollen tonsils
Inflammation of the tonsils (tonsils) and adenoids is a common cause of snoring in infants and children. In infants, these two conditions are generally caused by viral and bacterial infections.
Symptoms of tonsillitis in infants can include increased saliva production, the baby does not want to breastfeed, fever, to fussiness due to pain.
How to Prevent Baby Snoring
There are several ways you can do at home to prevent and treat baby snoring:
1. Keep babies away from allergy triggers
Mothers need to know and keep their little ones away from allergy-triggering factors (allergens) in their bedroom. Types of allergens vary and can be different for each baby, including dust, food, cigarette smoke, or cold air.
To find out if your little one has allergies and what type of allergen it is, you can take him to the doctor for an allergy test.
2. Improve baby's sleeping position
Make sure the position of the Little One while sleeping is in a supine condition. This position makes it easier for him to breathe so as to prevent him from snoring.
3. Use warm steam and a humidifier
Mothers can use steam from warm water to remove excess mucus from the baby's respiratory tract. In addition, an air humidifier can also be used to clean and relieve your little one's respiratory tract and reduce the sound of snoring.
4. Using a baby nose cleaning pipette (nasal aspirator)
Mothers can use a baby's nose cleaning pipette to remove mucus or mucus from the little one's nose.
The trick, insert the tip of the pipette into the little one's nose while pressing the pump-like part of the balloon. Once inside, slowly release the inflatable balloon so that the mucus in the baby's nose can be sucked in, then pull the dropper out of the nose. You can buy baby nose cleaning pipettes at supermarkets, pharmacies, or shops on line.
5. Using a saline solution
If the mucus in the baby's nose is thick and difficult to expel, the mother can thin it with a spray of sterile saline solution for the nose (nasal saline spray) are sold in pharmacies. Spray the saline solution into the baby's blocked nose according to the directions for use.
As an alternative nasal saline spray, You can make your own salt solution by mixing teaspoon of salt in a glass of water (about 200 ml). Spray the saline solution into the baby's blocked nose using a nasal aspirator.
Baby snoring while sleeping is not a dangerous condition, especially if it occurs in a newborn or still a few weeks old.
However, if your little one snores and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, pale or bluish lips and skin, fever, or difficulty eating and drinking, you should immediately consult a doctor. This condition can be caused by health problems that require immediate treatment from a doctor.