The difference between heavy breathing and wheezing in babies

Babies are a very special group. On the one hand, they cannot express their ideas like adults. On the other hand, they are very weak and easily hurt. Parents need to pay attention to their children's condition at all times to prevent bad things from happening and analyze their children's health status through their external manifestations. For example, a child’s breathing is very heavy when sleeping, but it doesn’t sound like he is gasping for breath. Why is that?

Is it normal for a newborn to breathe heavily when sleeping?

1. The baby's loud breathing when sleeping is related to rhinitis

What is the reason why babies breathe loudly when they sleep? Babies breathe loudly and heavily when they sleep. This is mainly because their nasal cavity is blocked, which hinders normal nasal breathing. Therefore, babies like to breathe through their mouths, which is why their breathing is loud and heavy when they sleep.

2. The respiratory system is developing

The baby's nasal cavity is narrow, the sinuses are not yet fully developed, and the nasal mucosa is particularly sensitive, so they are prone to runny nose and nasal congestion after sneezing, exposure to cold air or crying.

3. Secretion blockage

The nasal mucosa of babies is the same as that of adults, with normal amounts of secretions every day. Sometimes the secretions dry out and harden, blocking the baby's narrow nasal cavity, causing a stuffy nasal sound with every breath.

4. The baby's loud breathing during sleep is related to glandular hypertrophy

What is the reason why babies breathe loudly when they sleep? Babies breathe loudly, heavily, and roughly when they sleep, and they often snore. Clinically, this problem mainly occurs in the age group before 7 years old. This is mainly due to respiratory tract infections, which lead to enlarged adenoids or tonsils and block part of the trachea. This is a type of sleep apnea syndrome.

How to solve the problem of heavy breathing in newborns

If a baby has a stuffy nose, he or she will not sleep well all night, so you should clear their noses frequently to help them breathe smoothly and avoid snoring.

1. Remove secretions

If you can directly see the obstruction or secretions in the nose, take a cotton swab for babies, wet it with water or baby oil, and insert it into the nostril (no more than 2 cm) to remove the secretions. Be careful not to insert it too deep into the nasal cavity to avoid causing damage.

2. Hot towel compress

Use a wet and warm towel to apply hot compress on the nose. The nasal mucosa will shrink when exposed to heat, and the nasal cavity will be more unobstructed. At the same time, the sticky nasal mucus will easily hydrate and flow out.