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Newborns and babies breathe almost exclusively through their noses unless their nasal passages are obstructed. Mouth breathing in newborns can be caused by a blockage in the upper airway, such as a stuffy nose from a cold or allergies. In some cases, mouth breathing may be a sign of more complex conditions, such as sleep apnea, tongue tie, or abnormalities in the cartilage and bone structure that separates the nostrils. While it may be harmless and cute, it is important to observe with caution as it could indicate a health condition that requires medical attention.
Why do newborns sleep with their mouth open?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Blockage in the upper airway | Blocked nose due to a cold, allergies, or a deviated septum |
| Tongue-tie | The band of tissue connecting the tongue to the mouth is shorter than normal, restricting tongue movement |
| Habit | Newborns may get used to breathing through their mouths after a sickness or due to prolonged pacifier use |
| Dental and facial structure issues | Prolonged mouth breathing can affect the development of teeth and jaw, leading to dental alignment issues and facial deformities |
| Sleep apnea | Mouth breathing may be associated with sleep apnea, causing interrupted sleep and daytime sleepiness |
| Increased risk of respiratory infections | Breathing through the mouth bypasses the nose's natural mechanisms to filter and humidify air, increasing the risk of upper respiratory diseases |
| Ear problems | Prolonged mouth breathing can affect the Eustachian tube, leading to ear issues |
| Sleep problems and daytime tiredness | Mouth breathing can interfere with sleep, leading to daytime tiredness and behavioural issues |
| Speech development issues | Mouth breathing can cause difficulties in speech development as the tongue cannot position itself correctly |
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What You'll Learn
Blocked nasal passage
Newborns breathe almost exclusively through their noses unless their nasal passage is blocked. Blocked nasal passages can be caused by something harmless like a stuffy nose from a cold or allergies. More complex conditions can also cause nasal blockage, such as enlarged adenoids and tonsils, a deviated septum, or tongue-tie. Tongue-tie is when the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the mouth floor is shorter than normal, which can prevent the normal movement of the tongue.
If your baby has a blocked nose, you can try using a humidifier to alleviate congestion. Medications like Flonase or Rhinocort can help with allergies, and in some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove the tonsils, adenoids, or correct a deviated septum.
If your baby's stuffy nose has cleared up but they are still sleeping with their mouth open, it is recommended that you consult a pediatrician or dental professional. Mouth breathing can lead to several health issues, including an increased risk of respiratory infections, ear problems, dental alignment problems, facial deformities, and sleep apnea. It can also cause behavioural issues, contributing to a lack of focus, irritability, and lack of sleep.
It is important to address any mouth-breathing problems in babies to prevent long-term complications. If you suspect your baby is a mouth breather, consider consulting a speech and language therapist with expertise in myofunctional therapy.
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Allergies or sickness
Mouth breathing can be a sign of sleep apnea, where the baby's upper airway is obstructed. This is usually due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, restlessness, pauses in breathing, and coughing or choking. If you notice these symptoms, it is important to consult a pediatrician or a dental health professional to determine the underlying cause and rule out any serious conditions.
Mouth breathing can also be influenced by tongue-tie (ankyloglossia), where the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is shorter than usual, affecting oral functions such as eating, sucking, and speaking. In some cases, tongue-tie can make it difficult for babies to breastfeed or bottle-feed adequately.
If your newborn is mouth breathing due to allergies or sickness, there are a few things you can do to help:
- Use a humidifier to clear congestion.
- Try nasal saline sprays to reduce nasal congestion.
- Consult a doctor or pediatrician, who may prescribe medication or recommend further testing to identify and treat any underlying conditions.
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Tongue-tie
Newborns breathe almost exclusively through their noses, unless their nasal passage is blocked. Young babies have not yet developed the reflex to breathe through their mouths. Mouth breathing during sleep may be a response to some type of blockage in the upper airway, such as a stuffy nose or allergies. Over time, mouth breathing may become a hard-to-break habit.
Mouth breathing can cause a series of modifications in functions and structures. One of the things that need to be checked is whether the baby has a tongue-tie (ankyloglossia). This is when the band of tissue (or frenulum) that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than normal. Tongue-tie can prevent the normal movement of the tongue, affecting various oral functions such as eating, sucking, chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Tongue-tie can also cause painful and prolonged nursing episodes, poor stimulation of maternal milk production, reflux, slow weight gain, and gassiness. As babies advance to eating solids, tongue-tie can lead to gagging, refusing food, spitting out food, and picky eating. Tongue-tie can also cause speech delays, articulation issues, and stuttering.
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Sleep apnea
Newborns and infants breathe through their noses almost exclusively, unless their nasal passage is blocked. Babies have not yet developed the reflex to breathe through their mouths until around the age of 3 to 4 months. Mouth breathing during sleep may be a response to some type of blockage in the upper airway, such as a stuffy nose from a cold or allergies. In some cases, mouth breathing may be associated with sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing is interrupted during sleep.
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA). OSA occurs when the infant's throat narrows or closes, creating an obstruction in the upper airway. CSA, on the other hand, is rarer and is caused by a delay in the signal from the brain telling the body to breathe during sleep. Risk factors for sleep apnea in newborns include premature birth, low birth weight, abnormalities in the structure of the face or head, gastroesophageal reflux, cleft palate, and neuromuscular disorders such as Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.
Treatment options for sleep apnea in newborns include medications, positive airway pressure therapy using CPAP or BPAP machines, and, in some cases, surgery to remove tonsils, adenoids, or correct structural issues. Early detection and treatment of sleep apnea are crucial to prevent long-term health complications.
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Dental and facial structure issues
Prolonged mouth breathing can have several consequences on dental and facial structure, and it is important to address any mouth-breathing problems in babies to prevent long-term complications. Firstly, mouth breathing can affect the development of the teeth and jaw, leading to dental alignment problems, malocclusions, and facial deformities. The palate depends on the positioning of the tongue to widen and form a U-shape, which provides the necessary space for teeth to grow. Therefore, mouth breathing can cause overcrowding of teeth and impact the shape of the jaw.
Secondly, mouth breathing has been linked to sleep apnea, a disorder characterised by interrupted breathing during sleep, resulting in broken sleep and daytime sleepiness. This can further contribute to behavioural issues such as irritability, lack of focus, and inability to sleep. Additionally, mouth breathing can increase the risk of respiratory infections as the nose has natural mechanisms to filter and humidify the air, which is bypassed when breathing through the mouth.
Furthermore, mouth breathing can affect speech development, as the tongue's positioning is crucial for correctly pronouncing certain letters. Tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, is a condition where the band of tissue connecting the tongue to the floor of the mouth is shorter than normal, restricting tongue movement and impacting oral functions such as eating, sucking, and speaking. This can lead to difficulties in breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
In some cases, mouth breathing may be due to problems with the bite and mouth structure. The shape of the jaw may prevent the child from properly closing their mouth, resulting in mouth breathing. Enlarged adenoids and tonsils can also contribute to this issue and may require surgical removal if medications and home remedies are ineffective.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns sleep with their mouth open due to an obstruction in their nasal passage. This could be due to a cold, mild allergies, or a stuffy nose.
If mouth breathing continues into childhood, your child could be at risk of developing several serious medical conditions, including dental issues, sleep apnea, and long face syndrome.
Signs that your newborn is sleeping with their mouth open due to a medical issue include snoring, restlessness during sleep, pauses in breathing, coughing, choking, and gasping for air.
If your newborn is sleeping with their mouth open, you should first try some home remedies to clear any congestion, such as using a humidifier. If the problem persists, you should consult your pediatrician or a dental professional.
