When Do Babies Start Breathing Through Their Mouth?

check_icon Research-backed

Babies are little bundles of joy, and unlike us adults, they cannot tell us if there’s anything bothering them. All they can do is cry. And it can be because of a cold, hunger, or because they have wet themselves. Have you ever seen your baby breathe through their mouth? Do you think it’s normal for babies to breath through their mouth? Is there any cause for alarm? Let’s see what it means-

In This Article

Can Babies Breathe Through Both Nose And Mouth?

Babies essentially breathe through their nose. If your baby is breathing through his/her mouth, it could be because of a health issue such as a common cold. The congestion in their nostril makes them do so. There are several other causes which lead to the same as well.

As mentioned earlier, babies can breathe through their mouth. But they are born in a way that is designed to promote nasal breathing till they are a certain age after birth (1). Breathing through the nose also helps in better nursing. The close adjacency of the epiglottis and the soft palate is the reason why they are obligated to breathe through their nose. As the baby grows older, the distance between the epiglottis and the soft palate tends to increase. This might allow them to breathe through the nose and the mouth as per convenience.

Though they are able to breathe through the mouth, most of the babies continue nasal breathing. If the baby is breathing through his/her mouth, it might be because of an underlying problem.

When Do Babies Breathe Through Their Mouth?

1. Cold

Image: IStock

It’s common for babies to catch a cold. So, don’t worry if your baby is breathing through their mouth as the culprit behind it could be a simple cold. The mucus in the nose might be blocking the nasal passage of the baby making it difficult to breathe through their nose. We all know those days when we breathe through our mouth during a common cold. You can help your baby breathe better by using saline nasal drops. If your baby is constantly sneezing, with watery eyes, thick nasal discharge and fever, you should seek the help of a doctor.

2. Amniotic Fluid

Image: IStock

We all know that the fetus floats in the amniotic fluid inside the mother. It’s possible for some of this fluid to get trapped inside the nasal passage during birth, causing your baby to breathe through the mouth. But it gets cleared after some time (2).

3. Reflux

Image: IStock

Babies spit up milk during their early stages after birth. This can last up to a few months. Though most of the regurgitation of the milk goes through the mouth, it can also pass through the nasal passages. You can see babies expelling milk from their nose as a result. It can cause the nasal cavities to swell mildly which will result in stuffiness. Hence the baby uses its mouth to breathe.

4. Change In The Surrounding Temperature

Image: IStock

Changes in temperature and humidity can trigger the nasal membranes to swell leading to a runny or stuffy nose (3). Due to oxygen imbalance, the baby will try to breathe through the mouth. Even the environmental and occupational irritants such as dust, smog, secondhand smoke, and perfume can trigger nonallergic rhinitis (4).

5. Choanal Atresia

Image: IStock

Although a rare occurring, choanal atresia is the narrowing of the nasal cavity, making it difficult for infants to breathe (5). It is a development abnormality without any specific cause. It can be of two types- bilateral choanal atresia and unilateral choanal atresia. Bilateral choanal atresia can be fatal and symptoms start to appear soon after birth. Babies can breathe solely through their nose in the first few months of growth, and the blocked nasal cavity will cause them extreme difficulty in breathing. Unilateral choanal atresia is not a serious problem and is more prevalent.

Though it’s normal for babies to occasionally use their mouth for breathing during breastfeeding, it is a cause of concern if your baby does it every time when you feed. Ignoring the symptoms could be harmful in the long run. So it’s recommended to get a professional opinion in time to safeguard your little angel!

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.