Why does a newborn baby sleep with his mouth open? Is it normal for a newborn baby to sleep with his mouth open?

Usually, many mothers are first-time mothers, so they don’t know much about some of the baby’s problems and are sometimes worried. For example, many babies sleep with their mouths open. So why do newborns sleep with their mouths open? Is it normal for newborns to sleep with their mouths open?

There are several reasons why newborns sleep with their mouths open:

1. The nostrils are blocked by secretions. The nasal cavity of a newborn is relatively narrow. When there is secretion in the nasal cavity, it is easy to coagulate and block the nostrils, causing difficulty in breathing. When sleeping, the baby can only pretend to open his mouth to breathe.

2. Respiratory tract infection or allergy. When a baby with respiratory tract infection or allergic constitution comes into contact with allergens, it is easy to cause congestion and edema of the nasal mucosa, making the relatively narrow nasal cavity even narrower and causing difficulty in breathing.

3. Obesity. If the baby is too obese, the neck will become thick and short, and the soft fat in the throat will increase, which will occupy the airway space, making the airflow difficult. When sleeping, the baby can only open his mouth and breathe hard to meet his oxygen needs. In severe cases, sleep apnea syndrome may occur.

4. The tongue is too big or the jaw is too small. When the tongue is too big or the jaw is too small, it is easy to cause the tongue root to fall back when sleeping, causing difficulty in breathing.

5. Bent nasal septum. When the nasal septum is bent, the airflow will not flow smoothly, the oxygen supply will be insufficient, and the baby can only breathe through the mouth.

The latter two situations are pathological conditions and require further examination and treatment in the hospital.

It is abnormal for a newborn to sleep with his mouth open. Occasionally, it indicates that there may be breathing problems caused by nasal obstruction, which leads to mouth breathing, especially when there is hypertrophy of allergic rhinitis and increased nasal secretions, such as those caused by a cold. In this case, we need to clean the nasal secretions in time, and at the same time, raise the baby's head when sleeping, which can assist in hot compressing the baby's anterior fontanelle and nose bridge, so that the capillaries in the nasal cavity can expand and reduce the production of secretions. In addition, we should also pay attention to whether there are some congenital diseases, such as congenital airway stenosis, hypertrophy of tonsils and hypertrophy of adenoids, which can cause newborns to sleep with their mouths open. If the above symptoms occur, you need to go to the ENT department for examination in time.

1. Let your baby wear a special mask when sleeping. The special veil mask is very effective for babies who develop the habit of breathing with their mouths open. Let your baby wear it when sleeping at night, and pay attention to leaving the nostrils outside, which can well guide the baby to breathe through the nasal cavity. This veil mask must be soft and breathable. It is recommended to buy genuine products from regular pharmacies or hospitals.

2. Strengthen the training of upper and lower lips and cheek muscles. The training of upper and lower lips and cheek muscles can help babies improve abnormal bite. Mothers can clamp a piece of cardboard between the baby's upper and lower lips and pull it out quickly, repeating this 3 times a day. Note that the cardboard must be clean and smooth to avoid hurting the baby's delicate oral skin.

3. Train your baby to blow air with closed mouth frequently. Blowing air with closed mouth can also train the baby's oral cavity and surrounding muscle groups. For babies under 3 years old, it is recommended that mothers demonstrate and guide them to learn to blow air with closed mouth. For babies over 3 years old, you may teach them to whistle, chew gum and blow bubbles, etc., to exercise their cheek muscles.

4. Encourage your baby to breathe through the nose with his mouth closed. Generally speaking, babies can do more outdoor sports after they are 4 years old. At this time, mothers can encourage their babies to breathe through the nose with their mouth closed when doing exercises or jogging, and develop a habit to completely change the "bad habit" of breathing through the mouth.

It is abnormal for a child to sleep with his mouth open. This is caused by a blocked nasal cavity. Normally, the child should breathe through the nose. If the baby lacks the process of filtering bacteria, germs, and dust in the air through the nasal cavity, and the air enters the lungs directly from the mouth, it will be very harmful to the body, especially the face. It is best to pay attention to whether the child's nasal cavity is blocked and treat it accordingly.