Sleep is vital for childhood development, so it’s no surprise that many parents worry if they hear their child snoring.

Even though snoring is most common among older adults, it occurs in many children as well. It can have many causes, some of which cause snoring to come and go and others that are potentially long-lasting.

Snoring in children is often of little concern, especially if it only happens every once in a while. But if snoring is frequent or severe, it may signal a problem of disturbed breathing during sleep.

Knowing more about the types, causes, consequences, and treatments of snoring in children can allow parents to best look out for the health of their children and help kids get better, more restorative sleep.

Is All Snoring in Children the Same?

Not all snoring in children is the same. The frequency, severity, and impact of snoring in children can vary significantly.

Almost anyone, adults or children, has an occasional episode of snoring. Most of the time, this snoring is minor and short-lived with no measurable effect on the person’s sleep or overall health.

When snoring becomes more frequent and interrupts sleep, it can indicate the presence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Sleep-disordered breathing ranges in seriousness.

On one end is primary snoring, also known as simple snoring or habitual snoring, when a child snores more than two times per week but does not have other noticeable symptoms or associated health issues.

On the other end is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition marked by constant lapses in a child’s breath during the night. Those lapses, called apneas, occur dozens of times per night when the airway becomes blocked. OSA can cause fragmented sleep and is connected with negative impacts on physical health, mental health, learning, and behavior.

How Common is Snoring in Children?

Minor, occasional snoring is believed to occur in up to 27% of children. This type of light, temporary snoring does not usually raise health concerns.

Primary snoring without other symptoms is thought to affect between 10 and 12% of children. Studies estimate that 1.2-5.7% of children have obstructive sleep apnea. Of children diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing, around 70% receive a diagnosis of primary snoring.

It is hard to determine exact statistics for snoring and sleep apnea. Parents may not always observe their child’s snoring or be aware of its frequency and severity. In addition, detailed testing for sleep apnea, known as polysomnography, may not be available, affordable, or practical in all cases.

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