You lean over the crib and hear it: a soft little snore, or maybe a snort that sounds far too big for such a tiny person. If you are wondering is it normal for baby to snore, you are in good company. Often it comes down to a stuffy nose. Either way, back sleeping in a bare crib, as in our safe sleep guide, stays the same.
Below: why babies snore, what you can do tonight, and the breathing signs that mean it is time to talk to your pediatrician. For naps, schedules and night waking, browse our baby sleep guides.
Quick answer: is it normal for a baby to snore?
Snoring now and then, especially during a cold, is common and often settles once the stuffy nose clears. Snoring that happens most nights, keeps going for weeks, or comes with pauses in breathing, gasping or working hard to breathe is different. The AAP lists frequent snoring as a possible sign of sleep apnea, so tell your pediatrician.
Why babies snore
A stuffy nose. A cold is one common reason. Mucus narrows the airway, and air rattling past it can sound like a snore or a snort. The noise usually fades as the cold gets better.
A swollen adenoid or large tonsils. The AAP lists snoring, mouth breathing and noisy breathing as signs of an enlarged adenoid. It notes that temporary swelling after colds or other infections is common in young children.
Sleep apnea. Less often, snoring is a sign that the airway is partly blocked during sleep. The AAP says children with large tonsils and adenoid are at higher risk, as are children with conditions such as Down syndrome or craniofacial differences. Frequent snoring, problems breathing at night and daytime sleepiness are the signs to watch.
Not every noise is a snore. The NHS lists a high-pitched sound, wheezing or grunting with each breath among the signs that a baby may be seriously unwell.
What to do when your baby snores
- Watch for a minute. Is your baby breathing easily, with a normal color? Or are there pauses, gasps, or a chest or belly that pulls in with each breath?
- Help a stuffy nose. For a cold, the AAP suggests saline nose drops and, for babies, a rubber suction bulb to remove the loosened mucus. It says suction works best under 6 months of age. See our baby cold remedies for the full routine.
- Skip cold medicines. The AAP says over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be given to children under 4.
- Keep sleep flat and on the back. Do not raise the mattress, use wedges or positioners, add pillows, or turn your baby onto their side to quiet the snoring. The AAP says any surface inclined more than 10 degrees is not safe for sleep, and side sleeping is just as dangerous as stomach sleeping.
- Keep notes. Write down which nights your baby snores and any pauses or gasps; a short video can help your pediatrician. Our guide to caring for a sick baby at night has more tips for congested nights.
| What you notice | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Soft snoring or snorting during a cold, easy breathing, feeding well | Usually a stuffy nose | Saline and suction as the AAP describes; watch how it goes |
| Snoring most nights, or lasting for weeks after a cold | Possibly an enlarged adenoid or sleep apnea | Tell your pediatrician |
| Pauses, gasping, choking, or very sleepy during the day | Possible sleep apnea | Tell your pediatrician right away |
| Working hard to breathe, very fast breathing, grunting, can’t feed without stopping to breathe | A baby who may be seriously unwell | Call your pediatrician now or go to the ER |
| Breathing stops for more than 20 seconds, or pale, bluish or gray skin | Emergency | Call 911 |
When to talk to your doctor
Call your pediatrician or their after-hours line if:
- Your baby snores often or most nights, even without a cold
- Snoring or noisy breathing does not improve over several weeks
- You hear pauses in breathing, gasping or choking during sleep
- Your baby seems unusually sleepy during the day
- Your baby is working hard to breathe: the belly or chest pulls in, the nostrils widen, or the head nods with each breath
- Breathing is very fast, or your baby grunts, wheezes or makes a high-pitched sound when breathing
- Your baby can’t feed without stopping to breathe
- Your baby is younger than 3 months and has a fever (call right away)
Call 911 if your baby’s breathing stops for more than 20 seconds, their skin or lips look pale, bluish or gray, or there is a sudden change in muscle tone, such as going floppy.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for my baby to snore when they have a cold?
It is common. A blocked nose and short-term swelling of the adenoid after a cold can both make breathing noisy. If the snoring continues for several weeks after the cold, or your baby has trouble breathing or rapid breathing, call your pediatrician.
My baby snores in the car seat. Is that a problem?
Car seats are for travel, not for routine sleep. If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing or carrier, the AAP advises moving them onto their back on a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as you can. If snoring continues in the crib, talk to your pediatrician.
Should I raise the crib mattress or put my baby on their side to stop the snoring?
No. The AAP advises placing babies on their back for every sleep on a firm, flat surface with nothing else in the crib. It says even babies with reflux should sleep flat on their backs. If snoring worries you, talk to your pediatrician instead.
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Sources
- Sleep Apnea in Children: Detection & Treatment (HealthyChildren.org, AAP)
- Tonsillitis: Symptoms & Treatment (HealthyChildren.org, AAP)
- How to Care for Your Child’s Cold (HealthyChildren.org, AAP)
- How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained (HealthyChildren.org, AAP)
- Providing Care for Babies to Sleep Safely (CDC)
- Tonsillectomies and children (MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- When to get urgent medical help for babies and children under 5 (NHS)
This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you are worried about your baby, talk to your pediatrician.