Getting your baby to sleep is a big success. Getting them to sleep through the night? Even bigger! But what if your baby is sleeping with their mouth open? Should you worry?
In this article, we’ll help you identify why your baby might be breathing through their mouth instead of their nose when they sleep, how to resolve some of the causes, and when you might want to pursue the issue further with your doctor.
Key Takeaways
Table of Contents
- Do babies usually sleep with their mouths open?
- Reasons your baby might sleep with an open mouth
- Should you be concerned if your baby’s sleeping with their mouth open?
- Tips for helping your baby avoid mouth breathing
Do babies usually sleep with their mouths open?
Newborns are obligate nasal breathers, which means they prefer to breathe through their noses although they have the ability to breathe through their mouths if needed.
Because so much time is spent breastfeeding or bottle feeding — which means their mouths are busy — it’s often easier for them to breathe through their noses. Nose breathing is also more efficient because it increases oxygen uptake and filters bacteria and other irritants.
However, your baby may occasionally breathe through their mouth while they sleep. Sometimes, it’s normal. Other times, it may indicate an underlying issue.
So what’s causing this to happen? Let’s take a look.
Reasons your baby might sleep with an open mouth
Nasal congestion
If your baby has a cold or allergies and their nose is all stuffed up, they might resort to mouth breathing. And because they’re lying down when they’re sleeping, they won’t be able to clear the mucus from their nose, making their mouth breathing even more pronounced.
Enlarged adenoids
Adenoids are the tissue high up in the throat, just behind the nose. Along with the tonsils, they are responsible for trapping germs coming in through both the nose and the mouth. Enlarged adenoids are often the result of your body trying to get rid of an infection, irritant, or allergy.
Enlarged adenoids can contribute to mouth breathing, as well as congestion, snoring, ear issues, and sleep apnea — a sleeping disorder that causes someone to periodically stop breathing.
Deviated septum
Although rare in infants, a deviated septum is an uncommon cause of significant mouth breathing in infants. This means the thin wall between the nasal passages of the nose is off to one side.
As a result, the space inside one nostril is smaller than the other, blocking one side of the nose. Without a clear space for air to travel, the baby will choose to breathe through their mouth instead of their nose — even if they have a safe and comfy crib mattress and mattress cover.
Habit
Old habits die hard — even for a baby! Night after night of sleeping with an open mouth because of any one of these issues (nasal congestion, enlarged adenoids, or a deviated septum) can turn it into a norm that’s hard to break.
Should you be concerned if your baby’s sleeping with their mouth open?
If your baby’s mouth breathing is temporary due to a short-term issue, you can try some simple remedies at home (we’ll get to those in a minute!) or wait it out until they get back to healthy sleep patterns.
But if their mouth breathing goes on for six months or more or if it’s combined with other symptoms, you should contact your doctor. Ongoing mouth breathing could lead to other concerns, listed below.
Respiratory problems
Mouth breathing during sleep can lead to other respiratory issues like dry mouth and throat, drying your airways and causing a sore throat and a hoarse voice. It also increases the chances of respiratory infections.
Ear issues
Mouth breathing can also lead to ear infections because it interferes with the way the Eustachian tube (the tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat) operates, causing fluid to build up. Over time, this can cause an ear infection.
Dental concerns
Teething isn’t the only dental issue your baby might face. When your baby mouth breathes, their mouth gets dry, which may contribute to oral health issues over time, especially as teeth emerge.
Speech impediments
In a National Institute of Health study, researchers found that mouth breathing in kids ages four to twelve contributed to different kinds of speech impediments like articulation challenges, sound omissions, and lisps.
Identifying the underlying cause of mouth breathing early in your baby’s life can prevent these negative effects down the road.
Tips for helping your baby avoid mouth breathing
Remember that sleeping in a crib, travel crib, or bassinet is best for your little one. But if they’re breathing through their mouth in any of these sleep spaces because of congestion, try these ways to help them clear their nose.
1) Remove mucus.
Try to get rid of as much mucus as you can before your child lies down to sleep. A few drops of saline in their nose can loosen the mucus. You can also use a bulb syringe, which can pull the snot right out of your baby’s nose.
2) Bring your baby into a steamy bathroom.
Breathing in hot steam can also loosen stubborn snot. Run hot water in your shower or tub with the door closed until your bathroom is steamy, and then bring your baby in for as long as they can tolerate it.
3) Use a humidifier.
Placing a humidifier in your baby’s room can also help them breathe more freely when they sleep. Just remember to direct the water vapor away from your baby, use clean water every time you run the humidifier, and clean it regularly.
4) Try an air filter and vacuum.
An air filter is a great idea if your child suffers from allergies. It can remove allergens and other pollutants from your home. Just make sure to use it according to the directions and clean it regularly.
And it can’t hurt to vacuum your baby’s room and anywhere else they spend a lot of time! Dust and debris can cause congestion, too.
5) Keep your baby hydrated.
Besides preventing dehydration, making sure your baby has enough liquids helps to:
- Thin mucus
- Maintain a healthy immune system
- Regulate temperature
- Satiate your baby — well-fed means better sleep
Breathe easy with Newton.
Seeing your baby sleep with their mouth open might make you nervous, but it’s not always cause for alarm. Watch and wait. Your baby will probably give you the clues you need to figure out why they’re mouth breathing. Or they may just stop doing it on their own.
One thing you can do, regardless of the way they breathe, is to make your baby’s sleep environment as comfortable as possible with a firm, breathable mattress and soft, organic cotton sheets from Newton.
For more information on helping your baby sleep through the night and to check out our crib mattresses, sheets, pads, and swaddles, visit NewtonBaby.com today.
Frequently asked questions
Will a baby wake up if they’re having trouble breathing?
Yes, when babies are struggling to breathe while they sleep, their brain usually triggers them to wake up — and then you’ll probably hear them cry.
But this isn’t always the case, so signs to watch for that might indicate respiratory distress include:
- Increased breathing rate
- Noisy breathing
- Constant mouth breathing
- Pale or bluish skin color
What is tongue-tie?
Tongue-tie is when a tight band of tissue (called the frenulum) connects the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. As a result, the tongue can’t move freely. Tongue-tie can vary in intensity — a small fold can hold the tongue, or the entire bottom of it can be stuck.
If a child who is tongue-tied has no problems eating, drinking, and speaking, you don’t need to worry about doing anything to fix it. The frenulum often stretches by itself over time. However, if a child does face challenges, a surgical procedure may be necessary.
