CLAIM:
Routine snoring in children is not normal and may indicate an underlying airway obstruction such as enlarged tonsils, adenoids, allergies, or obesity. Persistent snoring can affect sleep quality, behaviour, and overall health, and may require medical evaluation.
FACT:
Scientific evidence shows that while occasional snoring in children can be normal, habitual or regular snoring is not considered normal and may indicate sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnea. Studies have found that persistent snoring is often linked to airway obstruction caused by enlarged tonsils, adenoids, allergies, or obesity, and may affect a child’s sleep quality, behaviour, and development. Early medical evaluation is important to identify the cause and prevent potential health and cognitive complications.
A common concern among parents is what to do if their child snores regularly. Many families dismiss snoring as harmless, especially if it runs in the family or the child otherwise appears healthy. But could routine snoring signal something more serious?
In a viral Instagram reel posted by Dr Madhavi Bharadwaj, a paediatrician popularly known as ‘bacchon_ki_doctor’ with over 1.6 million followers, she addresses this widespread but often overlooked issue. In the reel, she emphasises that snoring should not be considered normal in children and may point to an underlying airway obstruction.
“Snoring is not normal. Not in adults, not in kids, not in anyone,” she says, describing the case of a six-year-old child who snored heavily at night. When she asked the parents whether the child had a cough or a cold, they replied that he had been snoring since childhood and that his father also snores. They did not see it as a problem, especially since the child weighed 35 kg and appeared healthy.
Dr Bharadwaj explains that temporary snoring during a cough and cold can happen because young children are unable to clear mucus effectively. “If there is a cough and cold, snoring can go on and off for 2–3 weeks. Then the kid settles down,” she says. However, she cautions that habitual snoring is different. “If the kid is snoring in a routine, then understand what that means. Air passage, which is like an empty tube, there will be some obstruction there,” she explains.
She adds that obstruction anywhere along the airway, including nasal blockage, enlarged tonsils, adenoids, or excess soft tissue, can cause snoring because air has to push past narrowed passages. Over time, this can affect the child’s sleep quality and overall functioning. “If the sleep at night is bad, then the activities of the day will also be bad. Sleep will come anytime during the day. He will be irritable and cranky. He will not be able to concentrate,” she says, noting that learning, play, and daily behaviour can all be affected.
She also highlights that conditions such as allergic rhinitis, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and obesity can contribute to habitual snoring. In some children, it may even be linked to obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing repeatedly becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. Urging parents not to ignore persistent snoring, she advises consulting a doctor to identify and treat the underlying cause.
The reel has gained over 8.76 lakh views, 15.4k likes, and 9,431 shares, reflecting the widespread concern and confusion among parents about whether routine snoring in children is normal or a warning sign.
Is regular snoring normal in kids?
Scientific evidence shows that while occasional snoring can occur in children, habitual or regular snoring is not considered normal and may signal underlying sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
A 2020 clinical review emphasised the importance of recognising snoring as a potential medical concern rather than dismissing it as harmless. The researchers noted that, “Sleep is an important component in a child’s growth and development. Snoring is common in children and often perceived as benign, but habitual snoring may be an indication of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA can have health, developmental and cognitive consequences.” The study identified three major risk factors for paediatric OSA: enlarged tonsils or adenoids, obesity, and allergic rhinitis, all of which can narrow the airway and interfere with normal breathing during sleep.
Importantly, the researchers clarified that not all snoring is equally concerning. They stated, “Intermittent snoring is common in children, but habitual snoring, which affects about 3%–12% of children, is of concern and needs further evaluation.” Untreated OSA, they warned, can have “physical, developmental and cognitive consequences for the child.”
The study also highlighted that primary care providers play a critical role in identifying at-risk children by screening for habitual snoring and related symptoms. Overnight polysomnography, a specialised sleep study, remains “the gold standard investigation utilised by paediatric sleep specialists to diagnose OSA.”
Supporting these findings, a 2025 cross-sectional study involving 152 children aged 2–14 years further underscored that snoring in children is often overlooked despite its clinical significance. The researchers explained, “Snoring in children is often underestimated, yet it may be a clinical marker for underlying sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), with significant neurocognitive and behavioural consequences.” Their analysis found that the overall prevalence of snoring was 32.9%, with habitual snoring affecting 17.1% of children.
The study also identified clear risk factors associated with habitual snoring. Snoring was significantly more common among overweight or obese children and those with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, a condition involving enlarged tonsils or adenoids that can obstruct airflow.
Concluding their findings, the researchers stated, “Snoring is a common but often overlooked condition in children. Given its association with modifiable risk factors like obesity and adenotonsillar hypertrophy, early screening and management may prevent progression to obstructive sleep apnea and related complications.”
What can help reduce snoring in kids?
Occasional snoring in children often resolves on its own, especially when linked to temporary conditions like colds or nasal congestion. However, if snoring is frequent, consult a doctor to identify the underlying cause. A paediatrician may check for contributing factors such as allergies, asthma, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or obesity, and may recommend further evaluation, including an overnight sleep study, to rule out obstructive sleep apnoea. A proper diagnosis helps guide appropriate treatment and prevents potential complications related to sleep-disordered breathing.
Treatment depends on the cause. In children with enlarged tonsils or adenoids, surgery to remove this tissue (adenotonsillectomy) is one of the most effective treatments and can significantly reduce snoring and breathing problems during sleep.
In some cases, especially when symptoms persist after surgery, doctors may recommend positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy to keep the airway open. Improving sleep hygiene can also help; this includes maintaining a regular sleep schedule, reducing screen time before bed, and ensuring a quiet, comfortable sleep environment. These measures support better sleep quality and may reduce snoring and its impact on a child’s health and daily functioning.
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS.