Does your child snore? That snoring may mean something more than ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Now loud snoring in preschoolers is being tied to behavioral problems like hyperactivity, attention issues, and depression. A study found that 9 percent of 249 two- and three-year-olds were snoring loudly two or more times a week. Those kids were more likely to have behavior issues by the time they were three than the non-snorers.
Researchers don't know why loud snoring is linked with behavior. It could have something to do with poor quality sleep. But guess what else is a factor? Breastfeeding. Apparently it can help protect against snoring and/or its effects on behavior. Of course, all kids snore from time to time. How do you know what's normal -- and what's a potential danger sign?
Hell if I know! But if you've noticed your kid snoring loudly two nights in a row, maybe it's time to at least start paying attention and taking notes. Will you feel like a crazy person? Maybe, probably. But at least when you take your child to the pediatrician to talk about her snoring, you'll be able to give the doctor some details that will help determine if that snoring is normal or cause for concern.
Bottom line: If you notice it, it's worth bringing up. "If your kids snore, you have to ask more," says Richard M. Kravitz, MD. "Don't sleep on it, act on it," he says. Can I have a beat box for Dr. Kravitz? Let me write you a few more rhymes!
Kid snoozzzzes, we loozzzzes.
When in doubt, give a shout.
Bring your dozer to a doctor not a poser.
Buzzsaw bonanza.
You don't want no classroom dancer.
Devils snore where angels fear to shred.
I don't really know where I'm going with that last one. Anyway, you get the point. Yes, it's one more thing for parents to worry about. But maybe you can help your child have a better year in preschool.
Are you surprised to hear there's a connection between snoring and behavior?
Image via sunnydaykofax/Flickr
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Comments 9
Thanks for "one more thing to worry about"
My 15 month old snores and he's still breastfed. Articles like this are ridiculous and they piss me off.
My kids were breastfed and snored. 2 of them have had their tonsils and adenoids out due to sleep apnea, which is probably where this article was supposed to go. CM--wanna hire me? lol
I agree with the previous poster about the sleep apnea angle. I personally use a CPAP machine because I have obstructive sleep apnea, and I was a heavy sleeper and snorer as a child. I've probably had it my entire life. The symptoms/repercussions of sleep apnea in children include those listed above for children who snore. Surprise. This article really missed the boat on shedding light on a serious health condition. Do a little more research next time, please.
Along with onefootcutie and Meg...snoring is often (esp. in children) caused by enlarged tonsis and/or adenoids. This article meantions neither! Definitely not helpful.
My son is 3 now and has always snored. One night I noticed he stopped breathing internittently. I am a nurse and knew right away that it was a form of sleep apnea ( a chronic medical condition where the affected person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep). He also had tubes placed in his ears for chronic ear infections when he was 10 months old. He showed signs of a speech delay by the age of 2. 3 months ago he had his tonsils and adenoids removed. Long story short his ENT specialist, said that all 3 are closely linked to one another. " Almost all of my pediatric patients display all 3 medical conditions". This is not to say that every child that snores has deeper issues than what is on the surface, but is definitely worth checking out if two or more issues are prevalent.
Niche Witch