Why does a child drool at night?

As children grow up, the physical changes that occur are the most concerning issues for family members. Even some details will attract attention, especially for some novice parents who have no experience in raising children. A typical example is that children drool when sleeping at night. Some parents even use drugs indiscriminately, which is incorrect. So, why do children drool at night? Let’s take a closer look below.

Newborns

When babies are just born, their salivary glands are not fully functional and saliva secretion is less, so they generally do not have serious drooling.

About 6 months

From three or four months old, the baby's saliva secretion increases. After six months, due to the addition of complementary foods and changes in diet, the baby's nervous system is stimulated, causing more saliva, and the baby will often drool. Babies around six months old have relatively small oral cavity and cannot adjust their oral environment by themselves, so the excess saliva secreted by the baby can only flow out of the mouth, resulting in drooling.

6 months and above

Generally, babies will start to grow deciduous teeth at 6-8 months old. During the deciduous teeth eruption period, the teeth want to break through the gums to grow, which will cause the gums to ache and itch. Under the action of nerves, the baby's saliva secretion increases, but the baby's mouth is small and cannot regulate swallowing by itself, which causes frequent drooling.

Parents should have a clearer understanding of why children drool at night. It is normal for children to drool while sleeping. It usually does not affect the child's health. Parents should pay attention to cleaning the saliva in time. If your child's drooling is accompanied by a foul odor, he or she needs to be taken to a regular hospital for examination, as it may be caused by a disease.