Causes ans symptoms of sleep apnoea in babies
Did you know? Sleep apnoea: 1 to 4% of children suffers from sleep apnoea. In effect, you can suffer from this condition at any age. So what are the causes and the symptoms? How can you recognise the signs of sleep apnoea?
- Sleep apnoea in babies: definition
- Causes of sleep apnoea in babies
- Sleep apnoea in babies: symptoms
- Baby’s sleep is disturbed: a little help from CALMOSINE
Sleep apnoea in babies: definition
Sleep apnoea is defined by a partial or complete obstruction of the airways while sleeping. When it happens, the air flow is blocked while baby is trying to breathe properly.
This phenomenon is generally due to the deep throat muscles which relax and cause slackening. Narrowing of the walls around the airways at the back of the throat occurs.
Sleep apnoea leads to three consequences on your baby’s bodily function:
- Hypoxia: drop in blood oxygen level
- Hypercapnia: abnormal increase in blood carbon dioxide level
- Fragmented sleep: poor sleep quality
Causes of sleep apnoea in babies
There are several causes of sleep apnoea in babies:
- Swelling of the adenoids and tonsils, of tissues located in the nasal cavities (nose) and at the back of the throat. These tissues can swell easily and become too large.
- Prematurity can lead to a narrower neck, throat and nose anatomy
- Infections of the upper airways (mouth, nose, throat, larynx and trachea).
- Genetic factors
- Allergies
- Neuromuscular diseases (central apnoea)
- Maxillofacial anomalies (face shape)
Sleep apnoea in babies: symptoms
The symptoms of sleep apnoea in babies can be rapidly identified But you need to know them first! Here is a list of behaviours to look for in baby while they are sleeping or even in the daytime if you suspect they have sleep apnoea.
- Snoring or loud breathing
- Breathing through the mouth at night
- Excessive perspiration wetting their pyjamas and sheets
- Halt in breathing even if their chest rises
- Baby tending to catch their breath after several seconds without breathing (both day and night)
- The neck and chest muscles are taught when baby breathes. If they are undressed you can see their ribs appear
- Unusual sleeping positions, as if baby was trying to find the easiest way to catch their breath
- Sensation of a blocked nose at night
There are also secondary symptoms, which are direct consequences of the poor quality of sleep caused by sleep apnoea. Attention, these symptoms may not relate to this condition alone.
- Enuresis: urinary incontinence
- Being tired on waking and all day whereas baby has slept a good few hours. All these signs generally show a lack of sleep in baby: night terrors, if they are grumpy or hypersensitive for example
- Weight loss or on the contrary difficulty gaining weight
- A break in the growth curve or difficulty growing normally
- Difficulty feeding properly
If you notice any of the symptoms above, some of which may also be related to teething, you should not wait to see a doctor. Paediatrician, ENT specialist… Do not hesitate to call on more than one specialist. According to baby’s age, several tests will be scheduled to determine the cause of the sleep apnoea and to put the appropriate treatment in place.
Baby’s sleep is disturbed: a little help from CALMOSINE
If you feel your baby has difficulty sleeping or has disturbed sleep and needs a little extra help, try Organic CALMOSINE Sleep, a natural and mild food supplement to help your baby sleep from one year. It is particularly recommended for sleep disorders:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Waking at night
- Crying at night
- Waking early in the morning
Le secret de CALMOSINE Sommeil Bio ? Des plantes pour faciliter l’endormissement et retrouver un sommeil de qualité !
Lemon balm
a plant from the Lamiaceae family, used for centuries to help decrease agitation and irritability, promote sleep and improve quality of sleep.
Lemon verbena
a plant from the Verbenaceae family which helps restore regular sleep thanks to its calming properties.
Orange flower
a plant from the Rutaceae family, much liked by all for its delicate and mild flavour.
To determine which treatment is best for sleep apnoea it is essential to consult a healthcare professional. Only they can recommend which specialists to consult and tests to carry out.
We are committed to ensuring that the plants used in our products are grown and harvested by farmers committed to quality and respect for the environment.
