Even an infant can fall victim to the silent sleep disturber, the condition called sleep apnea. If adults are having a hard time dealing with it, what more for babies? Let’s learn together how it can be prevented.
So, how to prevent sleep apnea in babies? Using anti-sleep apnea devices such as the CPAP mask can help prevent sleep apnea in babies. However, treatment can be different depending on the child.
Sleep panea is not common in babies. Only 12% of children are affected by sleep apnea, it can be central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea.
Most babies will “outgrow” sleep apnea so the only thing the parents have to do is give them the right support by using treatment machines like CPAP or “continuous positive airway pressure”.
It is a completely safe therapy that will provide the right amount of air pressure the baby needs when sleep apnea attacks and disrupts the baby’s breathing.
Putting your child to sleep can already be a challenge so if you also have to stay awake to watch out for sleep apnea attacks, you’ll get no breaks at all.
However, using the machine treatment of CPAP can help you keep your baby safe.
Some babies may also need specific type of medication that will be recommended by the doctor. So if you notice anything unusual about your baby’s sleeping habits, get them checked immediately.
The therapy or medication are short-term since sleep apnea will most likely go away on its own as the baby grows up and their narrow airways become wider.
98% of babies with sleep apnea become free from the condition after at least 40 weeks after conception.
If symptoms persist, it is usually because of babies that are born less than 28 weeks after conception but it will also go away just like the majority of infants with sleep apnea.
When sleep apnea does not go away, it is usually associated with a deeper health condition that may be causing the sleeping condition to remain.
Right now, the CPAP treatment and other medication are the only safe way to help prevent sleep apnea in babies. They are not grown enough to try other CPAP treatment methods.
What causes sleep apnea in babies
After learning about what you can do to prevent sleep apnea in babies, what you should know about next is what causes it in the first place. Knowing the cause will help you understand the condition better.
Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in babies than central sleep apnea, it occurs when the body is experiencing difficulty in breathing due to an obstructive airway.
A baby’s airway can easily be obstructed due to their little throats and when they sleep, they usually sleep flat on their back which can push the tongue back down the throat, partially blocking the airway.
This can cause difficulty in breathing which can be prevented by providing positive air pressure to the lungs using the CPAP treatment.
Even though babies may outgrow the sleep apnea, children that are not yet in their teenage years can still get sleep apnea. Here are some reasons why.
- Hereditary sleep apnea
- A family history of sleep apnea can potentially be inherited as the baby or child will also inherit the features from their family members.
This will cause them to possibly develop the same cause of sleep apnea just like their parents.
- A family history of sleep apnea can potentially be inherited as the baby or child will also inherit the features from their family members.
- Overweight or obesity
- Being overweight or obese can happen to children and the imbalanced weight can cause sleep apnea. The extra weight can block the airways or make it difficult to breathe.
- Medical conditions
- A child with existing medical conditions or allergies can also trigger sleep apnea. There are many risk factors for sleep apnea, so always make sure your child is healthy.
- Structural position
- Sometimes, the mouth or the jaw bones need repositioning in order to help the body breathe normally. There is a surgery available for treating children with obstructive sleep apnea.
- Anatomical sizes
- The size of the throat, tongue or anything inside the body can end up blocking airways which can lead to sleep apnea.
Children may have lesser risk factors for sleep apnea, but it’s no reason to remain calm. Sleep apnea can be surprisingly confusing and it is still being studied until today.
How to tell if a baby has sleep apnea
So, now you know about the things that can cause sleep apnea in babies or children, how exactly can you tell if your baby has one? Here are the signs that you can look out for.
- Loud, constant snoring
- Snoring can happen in babies or children, but if it’s loud and constant or happens for long durations every time they sleep… your child might have sleep apnea.
- Sudden pauses in breathing
- Observe if there is air coming through the mouth or nose and if the chest is moving to inhale or exhale. Frequent pauses in breathing is a clear sign of sleep apnea.
- Irregular heartbeats
- Sudden pauses in breathing paired with irregular heartbeats usually come together. Try to monitor your baby’s heartbeat and breathing to verify if he or she has sleep apnea.
- Mouth breathing
- Difficulty in breathing due to sleep apnea will cause your baby to unconsciously breathe through their mouth or gasp for air in the middle of their sleep.
- Restless sleep
- If your baby still can’t speak, the only way to tell this is by observing their energy. Restless sleep will mean they will have lack of energy in the morning.
You can also watch out for signs during sleep when they try to keep moving because their body doesn’t know how to grasp the air they need.
- If your baby still can’t speak, the only way to tell this is by observing their energy. Restless sleep will mean they will have lack of energy in the morning.
- Difficulty sleeping
- Though it is normal for babies to have an irregular sleeping pattern, if your baby continuously struggles to fall asleep at night then it could be because they’re troubled by sleep apnea.
- Mood swings in the morning
- Babies often cannot properly communicate verbally so they express their feelings or struggles through their actions. Irritability and extreme mood swings can be a sign of apnea.
- Decreased ability to focus
- Sleep apnea can drain the baby’s energy and make them feel tired even after sleeping, causing them to lack the ability to focus better.
Some of these signs can be a completely normal behavior for babies, but the ones you must look out for the most is the pauses in breathing and snoring. Those two are the biggest signs of sleep apnea in babies.
When to see a doctor if a baby has sleep apnea
In case you suspect your baby has sleep apnea, you must see a doctor immediately. Well, it’s not because the sleeping condition has been confirmed.
You have to see a doctor for your baby immediately to properly determine if your baby does have sleep apnea or any other sleeping condition that must be treated immediately.
The doctor may have to ask you and your baby to stay over at a sleeping center or a regular hospital room to observe your baby’s sleeping pattern.
Don’t worry, it’s harmless and non-invasive.
For babies, you might immediately get the answer right away if your baby does have sleep apnea or not. If yes, they will also help find the right treatment your baby needs.
You will also be told that the baby will most likely outgrow the sleep apnea, but for safety precautions, may suggest you to take on treatments such as CPAP, medications, oral appliances or such.
Anything that is safe for the baby. An oral appliance is safer for children that can tolerate mouth pieces.
Related Questions
Can sleep apnea kill a baby?
Yes, sleep apnea can potentially kill a baby. Sleep apnea causes difficulty in breathing and repetitive short pauses in heartbeats which can turn fatal if worst comes to worst.
Interrupted breathing and paused heartbeats can result in other medical problems that affects the heart and the brain the most and that is what sleep apnea does to our bodies, even babies or children.
Obstructive sleep apnea makes babies or children more prone to different illnesses mainly attacking the brain or heart.
Does sleep apnea cause behavior problems?
Yes, sleep apnea in children can cause behavior problems. Being sleep deprived or not getting a good night’s rest can cause irritability and mood swings for the child.
Not only will the sleeping condition affect the physical health, it can slowly affect the mental health that may affect behavior problems unconsciously.
Though this is more likely to happen in children with sleep apnea, mood swings or irritability and other behavior problems can still happen with teenagers and adults but the possibility is lower compared to kids.
Can sleep apnea cause learning disabilities?
Yes, sleep apnea can cause learning disabilities since it decrease the ability to focus and may end up worsening conditions such as ADHD.
Being sleep deprived will disable the normal functionality of the body and also affect the brain’s activities. There will be a lack of energy, which means there is not enough energy to focus on things such as learning.
