Berkeley Parents Network: Snoring

Berkeley Parents Network

Snoring

Berkeley Parents Network > Advice > Sleep > Snoring

I've recently been told I have a snoring problem

Feb 2006

I have recently been told I have a snoring problem. I have never been told that in the past and have chalked it up to getting a little older and putting on 10-15 pounds in the last four years. It has been a problem in a relationship, and I was wondering if anyone has had success in dealing with it. I have tried the nose strips (not a lot of success), and a special pillow (also not a lot of success). Any advice would be appreciated. steve

I have had a similar problem. The doctor I used to see referred me to a specialist who reocommended a type of surgery that involves tightening up loose tissue in the throat. But after doing some reading I learned that this usually isn't a long-term solution.

I got a new doctor last year and he said ''The problem might be that allergies are causing your nasal passages to be constricted. I recommend you try Flonase.'' Flonase is a nasal steroid. It seemed to work quite well. I gradually reduced the dosage and it kept working. I then stopped taking it and eventually the snoring returned. Jeff

I started snoring when I was pregnant and it continued on after having my son. I went to a ENT specialist and he said that while I do have large tonsils and a slightly deviated septum (sp?), if I didn't snore before from these things the only reason I started snoring was from the weight gain. Something about there being more fat rattling around or something. Anyway, it's gotten better since I've lost weight, and my husband no longer angrily goes to sleep on the couch. I still snore though if I sleep on my back, especially if I'm congested. So if you're a back sleeper, try lying on your side. anon

Snoring 2-year-old

I don't know if this subject has been addressed before but it's an issue for my family now. Our almost 2 1/2 year old son Philip has begun to snore. Not just a light sound, but sometimes full blast tonsil flappers. While growing up with a father who could shake the house has conditioned me somewhat to snoring, my wife is ready to get her own apartment. How have you parents dealt with this problem? Has it been one at all? Jonathan

To the parent with the 2 yr. old "snorer" - My 8 yr. old son snores still, but he was MUCH MUCH louder when he was about 1.5-5 yrs. A specialist at Kaiser told us that he had enlarged tonsils and adenoids and that the snoring was partly due to this. If I can remember correctly, he said the adenoids typically are at their "peak" size-wise at around 5 yrs. old and that things would probably start getting better after that. We decided to not have them removed (he already had tubes in his ears) and the situation did indeed improve as he grew older. So, maybe there's hope that your 2 yr. old won't always snore. If you haven't already, you may want to have a doctor check his adenoids just to find out if the snoring is related.

My son also moaned VERY loudly - esp. early in the morning and ALWAYS on camping trips (and he still does, but also not nearly as much.) I recently spoke with a sleep specialist here at UC and he said moaning while asleep is also fairly common in kids and its just a way some children get through the transitions of sleep (REM etc.) - kids who sleep-walk or have night terrors do it during the same period of sleep. Most people also outgrow these behaviors. randice

>To the parent with the 2 yr. old "snorer" - >My 8 yr. old son snores still, but he was MUCH MUCH louder when he was about >1.5-5 yrs.

My experience confirms that specialist's theory. Our son could be heard snoring in the next room over the TV playing when he was 3-4 yrs old. Now, at 6, he only snores when he has a head cold and not nearly as loudly. Kay

Just a quick note on snoring to Jonathan. My now 5 year old son still snores early in the evening and has snored since he was 2. I spoke with his doctor who checked him out and said that his tonsils and adnoids seem normal and that he will grow out of it. To stop the noise, I go in and turn him over when he starts snoring and then re tuck him in pretty firmly. I have never awakened him in doing this because he is a deep sleeper. Usually, he snores just for the first couple of hours and then stops so I am awake to keep changing his position.

You might have your sons tonsils checked out if you are quite concerned but I believe that my son's snoring has greatly reduced through both age and my readjusting him early in the evening. And, yes, I agree that a 2 year old can snore very loudly! Kathleen

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