Snoring Two Year Old Won't Sleep Thru the Night.

Updated on September 06, 2010
H.T. asks from Aubrey, TX
11 answers

My two year old son has never slept thru the night. He will not go to sleep until after 10pm he wakes up 2 to 4 times durring the night and he is up for the day by 630am. I have discussed this with his pediatrician and she assures me that there is nothing "medically" wrong. She insists that it is just habbit and that I should just leave him alone in his room to "cry-it-out". I just cannot do that so gennerally he ends up getting in bed with me. For the past 9 months he has not only continued this streak but he has developed a very loud deep raspy snore. He is not conjested and it is much louder than that sound. Also last night as I was laying in bed watching him sleep I noticed that his breathing pattern was irregular. He would take several normal breaths and then skip one followed by several quick short breaths. I don't know what else I can do. I have wondered if I should get a sleep study done on him. He is so little for that but honestly I am worried that his pediatrician has this one wrong. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Has amyone had a sleep study done on their toddler?

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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

Suggest you get a second opinion. It sounds like he has sleep apnea, and that could be serious. Doctors are human, and can be wrong.

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B.P.

answers from Abilene on

My son's tonsils are always big and after a battle of a peritonsillar abscess they are HUGE. Our Pedi told me that if his breathing doesn't improve at night to go to an ENT. He said if he starts skipping breaths at all to take him.

I would definitely call around and see if you can get him in to a pedi ENT. It sounds like he has some kind of obstruction that is causing it.

In the mean time, try running a cool mist humidifer in his room that seems to help my son's night time breathing -- even if he's not stuffy.

As far as a sleep study one of my BFFs just had one done on her 22 mo old son. He was a micro premie though and has had lots of breathing issues. They did find that he had some kind of issue and he's going back to his pulmanologist (sp?) at Cooks next week.

It really can be a very serious issue if he's not getting enough Oxygen at night!

Don't let your doctor blow you off.

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S.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know the answer, but I would consult with an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor that specializes in pediatrics. Perhaps his tonsils or adenoids are enlarged and that is affecting his sleep - my 4 yr old daughter has that problem and we are going to have to get the tonsils removed. I highly recommend Dr. Tim Trone at Medical City. He has worked with both my twin 4 yr olds and has been a lifesaver, literally. Double check with your insurance and determine whether you need a referral; if so, make your pediatrician give you a referral. Good luck.

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M.

answers from Dallas on

My hubby is a nurse and says it sounds like early signs of sleep apnea and regardless of age, you should take him to a sleep clinic. It is a potentially deadly disease later on...and leads to less oxygen, etc for heart and brain and organs. And your pedi is wrong...there is nothing "normal" about a two year old not sleeping through the night. Our son has been sleeping through the night since he was about three months old and most people we know are similar. Waking once or twice and going back to sleep? Maybe...but your story appears different. Definitely take him to a sleep clinic and I would look into a better pedi. Good luck!

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C.A.

answers from Dallas on

It may be as simple as adenoids, sometimes when the are inflamed or enlarged it can cause snoring. I wonder have you had his blood pressure checked? My sister had high blood pressure at 2 and was restless and cried off and on through the night, because she was so you the Doctors ignored it and implied she had trained my parents, "just let her cry it out"!!! she had a massive stroke! You are perfectly within your rights to get a second opinion and ask for his blood pressure T. checked.

Good Luck!

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A.R.

answers from Amarillo on

My daughter always snores at night, and her pediatrition thought she may need her sinus cavities drained. if this is hte case for your son, it may cause the breathing problem. sometimes the mucus can cut off his air supply, and then he will take a big breath and clear it and be fine. We were put on rounds of antibiotics to clear up the sinuses and took x-rays before and after to see if it cleared up, then we were refered to a ear, nose, and through specialist. He didnt think her case was bad enough for surgury at the time. But you may want to get that looked at by an ear, nose, throug hspecialist. i dont know if you need a referal or not, depends on medical insurance. But i think its worth looking into. Good luck!!

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B.H.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with the responses of the other 6 moms I've read. I am a Registered Nurse, and even though I don't specialize in Pediatrics, I know that seep apnea is very dangerous at any age. I've seen peritonsillar abscesses and ruptured tympanic membranes (ear drums) as the result of inadequate treatment. In adults, I've also seen seizures, strokes, and immune system disorders as the result. Take him to a pediatric ENT, whether his regular pediatrician thinks he needs it or not. If it turns out that he does have sleep apnea, switch pediatricians! Better safe than sorry.

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B.M.

answers from Tallahassee on

Hello there, share your problem except my daughter (youngest out of three) is 4 years old! My middle daughter (now age 9) had sleep apnea & Bradycardia. But, I have noticed some different symptoms between the two! My youngest that's four, wont sleep through the night, breathes through the nose during the day but can only breath through the mouth during the night. She suffers from severe snoring, thirst throughout the night, wakes up 3-10X per night and has irregular breathing patterns while sleeping! I've gone as far as video taping her while she sleeps! My middle daughter had a twin, which has since passed away, while she was being treated for Bradycardia and Apnea. Her symptoms were the same but my 4 year olds are even worse. Our pediatrician said let it pass, be strict, but after loosing one and constantly listening out for the others sleep monitor (heart monitor) detects breathing irregularities. I couldn't do it, we changed pediatricians. Two weeks ago had a new consult! The result, immediate consult with an ENT, sleep study for apnea and possible deviated septum! Her adnoids and toncils are larger than normal, but I suspect a deviated septum, maybe both. Take my advise or at least just remember this....
I watched my daughter struggle, gasp for air and choke constantly for air at night! I explained, prayed, sought the help from MULTIPLE doctors ( second opinions)! I was a good mom, concerned for the well being of my child, had good medical insurance and was perceived as an overly concerned parent! None of the doctors wanted to hear my possible suggestions of a diagnosis.
As I rock my 4 year old back to sleep (already for a 3rd time tonight) I glance over at my daughters urn which holds her ashes and I wonder WHY?? I'll never know why, exactly! Did the doctors give up on what was wrong, did they not exhaust every possibility or option? I'll never know, which is what kills me. I filed a wrongful death lawsuit; waited 5 years, and won. But it never brought her back! Since then the other twin (middle daughter age 9) suffered permenant brain damage due to the lack of oxygen she was able to obtain during her bradycardia and apnea episodes, before proper diagnosis. Not having any use of her left side and suffers from severe learning disabilities (stroke/cerebral palsy) I've been told since recent diagnosis! And yes, I sought a personal injury lawsuit as well, and won that too! Still, it will NEVER cure her.
Since all this trama & drama, my family has ended up on some blackball (lawsuit risk) list, and most all doctors reject us before walking through the door! This has been a horrible issue, esspecially when all I ever sought was help for my children! We see a local ENT tomorrow, and are leaving for another appointment in Atlanta next week (due to the local doctors denying us medical care from our past suits). After Atlanta, my daughter sees her neurologist in Washington DC-and did I mention we live in Florida? So enough of my rambling, just do yourself & child justice by seeking MANY second, third and forth opinions! And NEVER give up if you think the diagnosis is not right on! I trusted in many doctors and ended up with a terrible loss, but there are MANY doctors out there that will pursue the unanswered questions you might be looking for! You just have to stay strong and pursue every option, even if it means great inconvenience upon your family. Because, nothing is as inconvenient as a loss of your child! I'm sure and hope you have found a solution to your question by now, since it posted 2 years ago. With the time past it puts our children around the same age ( he's around 4, right?). I wish you the best and hope you have found sleep aswell! I apologize for such a long post! I only wish I could reach all that may face what I have, in the past! Live and learn, they say! Best wishes!

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S.S.

answers from Dallas on

Our little girl was doing the same thing and our Pedi sent us to an ENT Specialist and the problem is her tonsils are too big. She is having them removed in June. Our ENT Dr. is wonderful. He is located on the corner of 121 and Coit in the hospital. His name is Dr Mehendale. Good Luck!

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D.L.

answers from Dallas on

He is probably waking himself up with his snoring. Too bad they cannot remove his adnoids, tha is usually the probl;em. You might use "white noise" I use a sound machine for my little grand sweety, and put it on waterfall. She sleeps much more sound. If you are using a fan in his room it may be drying out his sinus' also try a humidifier to keep them moist. I hope this helps. I understand how frustrating it can be. Another tip for colder weather, is get an oldfashioned water bottle (the rubber ones), and put hot water in it and place it on the little ones feet or next to there back, it is like having a buddy, or a puppy sleeping next to them, Good Luck
D.

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

Take your son to an ear, nose, throat specialist. It is possible he has abnormally large tonsils and/or adenoids which may be causing his snoring/irregular sleep pattern, which in turn is causing his bad sleep problems. My 8 year old finally had her tonsils and adenoids removed last November, and she no longer snores!

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