Why Does My Baby Breathe Through The Mouth? – 4 Profound Reasons

“Children should not breathe through their mouths. Not while awake, not while asleep.” This statement may have left you curious about why your baby tends to open their mouth while sleeping. Rest assured, there is no need to worry. In this article, we will delve into why does my baby breathe through the mouth?

Here, you will discover whether it is normal for a baby to breathe through their mouth while sleeping, as well as uncover effective ways to prevent this habit from persisting as they grow. However, before delving into these details, it is important to understand the respiratory system and how it functions within a baby’s body.

The respiratory system is a complex network of organs and tissues that enables a baby to breathe. It encompasses the airways, lungs, and blood vessels, along with the muscles that power the lungs. Together, these components facilitate the movement of oxygen throughout the body while eliminating waste gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). By gaining a deeper understanding of the respiratory system, we can better comprehend why babies may exhibit mouth breathing during sleep. So, let us explore this topic further and shed light on the matter at hand.

Other than breathing, the respiratory system also performs the following functions:

• Allowing you to talk and to smell properly.

• Matching warm air with your body temperature and moisturizing it to the humidity level your body needs.

• Protects the airways from harmful substances.

• Removing waste gasses from the body while exhaling.

• Delivering oxygen to the cells in the body.

Why Does My Baby Breathe Through The Mouth

Generally, babies can only breathe through their noses; the only time newborns breathe through their mouths is when they are crying.

This is because with crying they will be able to switch air by mouth-breathing. However, when they close their mouths to suck, they can’t breathe. If only one nasal passage is obstructed this condition might not be detected for months or years.

A very important part of lung development in babies is the production of a substance made by the cells in the small airways and consists of phospholipids and protein which is called surfactant.

This Surfactant is normally released into the lung tissues where it helps lower surface tension in the airways. This helps to keep the lung air sacs open.

Note that premature babies may not have enough of this surfactant in their lungs and may have difficulty breathing properly.

Possible Causes Of Baby’s Mouth Breathing While Sleeping

It’s shown and properly explained above what the respiratory system is and how it works as related to breathing including how baby breaths. Now, if your baby opens their mouth to breathe while sleeping the cause may be:

• Your baby has or had an airway problem: Airway problem or obstruction is the passage by which air reaches the lungs. Consisting of the throat, voice box, and trachea. These blockages prevent air from entering the lungs partially or completely, leading to difficulties in breathing and many other complications, some may be potentially life-threatening.

• Jaw alignment issues: Some jaw malformations may occur at birth, or they may appear as the child grows. Jaw malfunction can cause chewing, eating, and sleeping problems. Which can sometimes make babies open their mouths while sleeping.

• Your baby has or had a thumb-sucking habit: The mouth develops around thumb-sucking, shaping the lips, teeth, and palate around it, leaving space for mouth breathing.

• Your baby has a restricted tongue web (also lingual frenulum): If this happens the tongue tends to sit lower in the mouth without making the necessary contact with the roof of the mouth when swallowing. It can result in a high narrow palate that reduces the necessary spaces for nasal breathing. It also causes the mouth to rest in an open position. As a result, children will breathe through their mouths instead of through their noses whether sleeping or awake

Is It Normal For A Baby’s Mouth To Be Open While Sleeping?

No, a baby shouldn’t breathe through its mouth while sleeping. Also, it’s not a healthy way to breathe, even for adults. Healthy kids and adults will automatically breathe out of their noses. So, when a baby sleeps with their mouth open, there are chances that the nose is blocked.

But if a child sleeps with the mouth open for a short period, it’s probably not something to worry about. However, if it persists for a long time, especially for babies, they might develop problems.

As earlier stated, babies’ mouth breathing is considered a breathing disorder or blockage. So, your baby is more likely to develop sleep problems, behavior problems, and mouth problems. They may also have difficulties in eating or learning how to move their tongue.

One of the most important factors in a child’s development is good sleep. But sadly, when a baby breathes through the mouth while asleep, don’t sleep as deeply as well as those who breathe through their noses.

Lack of quality and good sleep can negatively affect your child’s performance, growth, concentration, behavior, and development.

So, if you notice that your baby sleeps with its mouth open frequently, it’s important to do some research or ask a medical professional to know why.

How To Stop Your Baby From Sleeping With An Open Mouth?

Get a professional diagnosis from a doctor or dentist. If the cause of the mouth breathing is a result of a basic problem such as plenty of mucus (experiencing allergies and baby’s body is trying to get rid of irritants like pollen or dust)

You must find solutions to the temporary problem to avoid allowing it to become a long-term habit and future crises. Below are basic solutions that can help your baby breathe better and get more restful sleep.

1. A Good Warm Bath

If your baby enjoys bathing or finds it very relaxing, it can instantly cure fussiness. The warm water can also help loosen out mucus so that it can drain easier, helping them feel calmer and less stuffy.

2. Sucking

Babies don’t know how to cough up catarrh or blow their nose yet, so you should do this for them. Suctioning or sucking a baby’s nose or mouth can help remove excess mucus that is making it difficult for the baby to breathe. Try not to be excessive with sucking because too much of it (when not necessary) can increase mucus production.

3. Humidifier

Dry air is usually known to increase mucus production. This can happen to both adults and children, but babies have tiny airways, so that small increase can cause major problems. Use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air and decrease the amount of mucus they produce.

4. Saline Drops

Saline drops are easy to use and very effective. If your baby has mucus that is too thick to drain properly, saline drops can be used to make it thinner. Just a few drops inside their nose as instructed by a professional will help it come out. You’ll probably end up wiping their nose every few minutes, but your baby will be able to breathe much easier.

5. Air Filter

One of the most common causes of extra lumps or knots is poor air quality. There could be an allergic disease in the air that is capable of disturbing your baby’s allergies, resulting in more mucus. An air filter will instantly improve air quality and might decrease possible mucus.

Things Your Baby May Experience When Sleeping With Their Mouth Open:

Dentists and doctors say many potential issues could develop from your infant sleeping with mouth open because mouth breathing is usually caused by difficulty in breathing, it can also lower the concentration of oxygen in the blood.

Potential complications which may include your child’s lower facial features can disproportionately elongate, causing a larger chin, gummy smile, open bite, or an overall narrow face.

This is why you must know these symptoms so you can pay more attention to your baby immediately after it is observed, to avoid risking the baby’s health and proper rest. These possible symptoms are:

• Snoring

• Noisy eating

• Difficulty in speaking

• Strong mouth odor

• Frequent cavities and tooth decay

• A dry mouth and/or dry, cracked lips

• A persistent slightly open-mouthed look

• Crying or problems with sleeping at night

• Trouble concentrating at school or complaints about “brain fog”

• Tiredness and irritability even when they’re getting plenty of rest

Can Mouth Breathing While Sleeping Just Be A Bad Habit?

The simple answer is yes. Breathing is supposedly second nature.

Mouth breathing for children might just be a habit like thumb and finger sucking which also is capable of setting the stage for mouth breathing to occur.

Your child’s mouth breathing might just be a bad habit that you can help them unlearn.

But once detected, mouth breathing is a bad habit a parent should break by treating the cause.

When Should You Go See A Doctor

Here are situations that require you to go see a doctor:

1. If you notice your newborn is having trouble breathing, is choking, or turning blue or purple, these are signs that your child is not breathing, or having tremendous trouble breathing.
2. In most cases, an occasional gaping mouth during sleep is a sign of congestion. If you’ve tried the above remedies and your baby continues to sleep with its mouth open, it’s worth bringing it up to your pediatrician.
3. In some cases, enlarged tonsils and adenoids won’t respond to home treatment and they may be infected. In others, they may just be larger due to genetics. Your doctor may recommend testing, sleep studies, or surgery to resolve more serious issues.

 As a parent, try not to become panicked or overly anxious, but rather be observant. Pay attention to the signs, use home remedies to relieve congestion if necessary, and make sure to call your pediatrician about any questions or concerns you have.

Additionally:

Prevent Respiratory Infections. Not all breathing problems can be avoided but You can help prevent your baby from many respiratory infections by taking these steps:

• Do not smoke around your baby, smoke residue can build up on surfaces in rooms and cars. Babies who are around smokers get twice as many respiratory infections and colds as those who are living with smokers.

• Keep places where your child will be dust-free.

• Everyone should practice good hand washing to prevent the spread of germs.

• If possible, keep your child away from people who are sick.

Bottom Line:

Breathing, although seemingly simple, can be more intricate than we realize. It’s important to understand that there is a healthy way to breathe and an unhealthy way to breathe. Perhaps you haven’t given much thought to “the way your baby breathes” because, after all, as long as the baby is alive, it must be breathing, right?

However, this article has opened your eyes to the potential risks involved. Babies breathing through their mouths, known as “mouth breathing,” whether awake or during sleep, can lead to a multitude of health issues, sleep disturbances, and even permanent changes to the shape of their faces.

From the moment babies are born, they naturally breathe in and out through their noses (once the initial nasal mucous from birth is cleared). It makes perfect sense, as they need to be able to breathe while feeding, sleeping, and engaging in other activities. The long-term consequences of mouth breathing in babies are significant.

If you observe your baby breathing through their mouth while sleeping and you know they can breathe adequately through their nose, gently encouraging them to close their mouth can help. However, if your baby struggles to breathe properly through their nose, it is crucial to identify the source of the problem and seek appropriate treatment.

By understanding the importance of proper breathing for your baby’s well-being, you can take proactive steps to ensure their respiratory health and overall development. So, pay attention to how your baby breathes, and if necessary, seek professional guidance to address any breathing issues they may be experiencing.