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Snoring Remedies for Children

According to Medical News Today, snoring affects 11 to 12 percent of children between the ages of one and nine. Fortunately, most cases of childhood snoring can be treated at home. According to the Mother Nature and Home Remedies websites, mild and temporary snoring in children resulting from illness or allergies can be cured through the use of certain home remedies and over-the-counter products.

  1. Saltwater

    • According to the Mother Nature website, saltwater can be used to flush out illness and alleviate snoring in a sick child. Saltwater nasal drops are available at drug stores or can be made at home by dissolving 1/4 teaspoon of salt into 8 oz of previously boiled water.

    OTC Decongestants

    • The Mother Nature website recommends using over-the-counter decongestants to treat the snores of a child suffering from cold or allergies. Though these decongestants do not cure the illness, they treat the symptoms, lessening congestion and allowing for easier breathing.

    Throat Sprays

    • According to the Home Remedies website, throat sprays can be used to aid a snoring child. Sprays of these nature are used to coat the throat and allow easier passage of air.

    Avoid Problematic Foods

    • The Home Remedies website cautions that there are certain foods that have been shown to enhance congestion and should be avoided by a child suffering from snoring. Such problematic foods include chocolate, dairy, fried foods and frozen foods.

    Find a Better Sleep Position

    • The Mother Nature website recommends the child change his sleep position to allow the airway to open up better. The recommended position is usually on the child's side with his head slightly propped up against a pillow.

    Lose Weight

    • Obesity increases the likelihood that a child will develop a problem with snoring. According to the CNN website, 20 to 40 percent of obese children suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a serious and dangerous sleep disorder often caused by severely enlarged adenoids and tonsils. As a result, weight loss is recommended for a child that is overweight or obese to prevent the development of a snoring condition or help cure an already existing condition.

    Surgery

    • According to the Put an End to Snoring website, a child's snoring is very often caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils. When this enlargement is not the result of a temporary cold or allergy, surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids is an effective treatment with an 85 to 90 percent success rate, according to Medical News Today.

    CPAP and BIPAP Machines

    • In cases where surgery fails to cure the snoring child, the Medical News Today website recommends the use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or BIPAP (bi-level positive airway pressure) machines to aid the child in breathing more comfortably throughout the night.

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