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Original poster

4 year old snoring and behaviour

26 replies

Preg19 · 26/03/2022 06:37

Hi this is a long one so bare with me, my 4.3 year old ds has been snoring most nights for a my least a couple of months now. He Also does a lot of throat clearing when he eats. He has started having a lot more meltdowns, I know that there is a lot of emotions at this age do taking the gentle validation but sometimes it’s like a switch where I can see nothing has triggered a meltdown but it happens where he’s happy one minute and upset the next. So we had the doctor look at him yesterday and he refused for her to look in his mouth but she checked his ears and they were red and he has congested nose, she thinks it’s an underlying viral illness so has given AB (which I cannot get him to take!) has anyone had any experience as I’m trying to figure out what’s normal, he also seems more tired I think!

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Whatoflife · 26/03/2022 07:32

I can’t help with the virus but if he’s snoring he’s probably not sleeping well and his tiredness could be contributing to poor behaviour, as well as possibly feeling unwell obviously.

MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler · 26/03/2022 07:36

Does he mouth breathe? This can cause problems- Google it, and get him to breathe through his nose as much as possible.

Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 07:45

@Whatoflife

I can’t help with the virus but if he’s snoring he’s probably not sleeping well and his tiredness could be contributing to poor behaviour, as well as possibly feeling unwell obviously.
Thankyou this is what I thought may be the case I’m hoping the ABs will help!
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Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 07:47

@MyNameIsAngelicaSchuyler

Does he mouth breathe? This can cause problems- Google it, and get him to breathe through his nose as much as possible.
Yes he does, Also another thing is he has to have the tv on really really loud, my husband thinks he’s just being difficult but I’m not convinced as he says he insists he can’t hear it and gets upset
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Whatoflife · 26/03/2022 08:57

My daughter mouth breathed due to enormous tonsils and adenoids, also struggled with hearing. Her voice was quite ’thick’, like her airway was slightly constricted. When she had tonsils and adenoids out she instantly slept better, stopped snoring and her voice was so much clearer and a little higher - it was so surprising! Unfortunately they didn’t do Fri it’s so her hearing struggled for a couple of years but only mildly.
If he’s at school I bet he’s struggling with hearing.
I’d push for an ENT referral, the wait list can be long, 4 months in our area pre covid

Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 09:05

@Whatoflife

My daughter mouth breathed due to enormous tonsils and adenoids, also struggled with hearing. Her voice was quite ’thick’, like her airway was slightly constricted. When she had tonsils and adenoids out she instantly slept better, stopped snoring and her voice was so much clearer and a little higher - it was so surprising! Unfortunately they didn’t do Fri it’s so her hearing struggled for a couple of years but only mildly. If he’s at school I bet he’s struggling with hearing. I’d push for an ENT referral, the wait list can be long, 4 months in our area pre covid
That’s interesting I’ve had my suspicions it’s to do with his tonsils/adenoids but the doctor said give 3 weeks and go back if no change
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Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 09:10

He’s not at school until September

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MrsSkylerWhite · 26/03/2022 09:11

Does he have sleep apnoea?

Pinkflipflop85 · 26/03/2022 09:11

Start pushing for an ENT referral.

We waited 10 months for our dds appointment.

Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 09:19

@MrsSkylerWhite

Does he have sleep apnoea?
There’s a couple of times I’ve heard a pause in breath but not a lot of times!
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Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 09:20

@Pinkflipflop85

Start pushing for an ENT referral.

We waited 10 months for our dds appointment.

Wow that long, I just wish he would let some one look in his throat that would of helped!
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Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 09:20

Thankyou for everyone’s replies, really helpful!

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Mamette · 26/03/2022 09:21

He needs to take the antibiotics first off. So bribe him or do what you need to do to get those in.

knackeredmumoftwo · 26/03/2022 09:23

It sounds like glue ear - where their ears are so congested they cannot hear, get very tired and misbehave - my daughter needed low dose antibiotics for a couple of years over the winter to prevent this- it was recognised in school

Little things helped - don't shout at them but talk to them face to face as they might not hear you, recognise that they are more tired than usual and help them chill and also things like an extra pillow at night to be help their tubes drain :)

Whatoflife · 26/03/2022 09:25

*didn't do grommets

knackeredmumoftwo · 26/03/2022 09:26

Oh and brines for antibiotics - take it and have some chocolate/ yoghurt whatever their favourite is - if they have recurrent infections then they need to get used to taking it regularly so a little tasty thing helps them accept they have to take it

That said I've had to wrestle it in before - happy days!

Benjaminsniddlegrass · 26/03/2022 09:26

I was going to query adenoids, totally anecdotal but when I was 4 I apparantly snored so loudly on a camping trip the other families thought it was my dad they could hear, apparantly really struggled with my hearing too.

girlfrombackthen · 26/03/2022 09:34

Hi OP, my DC is a similar age - he's never been a great sleeper and snores like a train. He's a sensitive character anyway but I do think lack of sleep contributes to this and we find we have to pace activities for him or he gets very cranky! He's under a paediatrician for other issues (allergies/asthma) so when I mentioned this in a review appointment they were able to send us home with a oximeter/sleep monitor straight away. He was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea and has now been referred to ENT surgeon!

Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 12:50

@Mamette

He needs to take the antibiotics first off. So bribe him or do what you need to do to get those in.
I’ve tried the bribes to no avail so at the moment I have been mixing it in smoothies and yoghurts while still explaining to him why he needs medicine!
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Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 12:51

@knackeredmumoftwo

Oh and brines for antibiotics - take it and have some chocolate/ yoghurt whatever their favourite is - if they have recurrent infections then they need to get used to taking it regularly so a little tasty thing helps them accept they have to take it

That said I've had to wrestle it in before - happy days!

Yes I’ve got some chocolate yoghurts in he was very pleased!
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Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 12:51

@Benjaminsniddlegrass

I was going to query adenoids, totally anecdotal but when I was 4 I apparantly snored so loudly on a camping trip the other families thought it was my dad they could hear, apparantly really struggled with my hearing too.
Yes we are due back in three weeks so hoping they will refer if not better thankyou!
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Original poster
Preg19 · 26/03/2022 12:55

@girlfrombackthen

Hi OP, my DC is a similar age - he's never been a great sleeper and snores like a train. He's a sensitive character anyway but I do think lack of sleep contributes to this and we find we have to pace activities for him or he gets very cranky! He's under a paediatrician for other issues (allergies/asthma) so when I mentioned this in a review appointment they were able to send us home with a oximeter/sleep monitor straight away. He was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea and has now been referred to ENT surgeon!
Thankyou Wow he sounds exactly like my boy! I hope you get seen quickly bless him
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Ginflinger · 26/03/2022 13:14

Check for glue ear. My dd had grommets, adenoids out, tonsils out at 4. It transformed her.

Whatoflife · 27/03/2022 08:56

OP, just another point not to make the same mistake that I did….
My daughters condition flared up in the winter with more colds and viruses around, when the ENT appointment came through it was summer and she seems fine so we rejected it. Following winter it all kicked off again and we had to get back on the waiting list! They monitored her for a couple of years after her surgery before they discharged her. Moral of the story is take the appointment, even if he’s not so bad at at he time and hopefully they’ll monitor him regardless.

Original poster
Preg19 · 27/03/2022 09:19

@Whatoflife

OP, just another point not to make the same mistake that I did…. My daughters condition flared up in the winter with more colds and viruses around, when the ENT appointment came through it was summer and she seems fine so we rejected it. Following winter it all kicked off again and we had to get back on the waiting list! They monitored her for a couple of years after her surgery before they discharged her. Moral of the story is take the appointment, even if he’s not so bad at at he time and hopefully they’ll monitor him regardless.
Thankyou that’s really helpful!
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