Can a baby choke on drool while sleeping: how to avoid the danger
Children under one year of age often experience increased activity of the salivary glands.
This can be caused by various reasons: from teething to acute respiratory disease. The main thing is to correctly determine the cause of this condition. In most cases, this problem does not require treatment and goes away on its own. Baby drooling is a common occurrence.
Causes of increased salivation at night
If a child chokes on saliva in his sleep, he should be moved from a position lying on his back to his side or stomach, then the mucus will not flow into the lungs, causing a cough. The problem is worse at night because:
- The baby lies on his back;
- The child does not move for a long time;
- Mucus drains into the lungs along the back of the throat;
- At night, the activity of the salivary glands increases.
This condition should not be considered a pathology; it is normal in children under one year of age.
The most common reason for the active formation of saliva is teething. Also, the volume of mucus secreted increases sharply when a child suffers from acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections. When the period of recovery begins, this condition passes. The baby begins to choke on saliva because mucus from the mouth constantly gets into the throat, and the baby does not have time to spit it out.
The most likely cause of the problem is active teething
Emergency help for choking on saliva
Parents often wonder whether a baby can choke on saliva and why this happens. This is really possible if the baby sleeps in a supine position. Also, a sleeping baby may choke when burping. To prevent this from happening, after feeding you should keep the baby in an upright position for about 15 minutes and only then put it in the crib.
What to do if the baby's temperature is 38 degrees
Emergency help may be needed if:
- The mucus is thick and viscous, and the child cannot spit it out on his own;
- The baby's nose is very clogged due to a runny nose;
- Salivation is caused by ingestion or inhalation of a foreign body;
- The child suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
In these cases, parents must act correctly so as not to harm the baby.
If a baby chokes
If parents see that the child is choking on saliva, they need to give the baby an upright position as soon as possible.
A baby after six months who can sit can be placed on pillows to sleep in this position; Children up to two to three months are placed on their stomach.
If the baby cannot breathe, you need to take him by the legs, turn him head down and hold him in this position until he spits out mucus or a foreign body. This must be done quickly.
What not to do
When a child is choking and cannot clear his throat, parents should not be nervous, because anxiety always interferes with the correct action. Also, you should not slap the baby sharply on the back - this can push the mucus even further into the respiratory tract.
If the baby screams loudly, you should not interfere with this - with a scream, he can get rid of the abundance of saliva on his own. If there is increased salivation, the baby cannot be limited in liquid; on the contrary, he should drink as much as possible.
Acidic drinks (for example, cranberry juice) should be avoided - they provoke excessive saliva production.
Attention! You should not give your baby bagels or dryers instead of a teether. The baby may bite off a small piece and choke. All rattles with small parts inside that the baby takes into his mouth must be securely closed.
First aid must be provided quickly and correctly
When you need a doctor's help
Cough to the point of vomiting in a child - what to do if a baby is vomiting
If a child chokes on saliva in his sleep due to a runny nose, the snot flows down his throat and interferes with sleep. In this case, you should contact your pediatrician to prescribe antiviral drugs and vasoconstrictor nasal drops. You also need medical help if:
- The child has a red and swollen throat (this may be a sign of infection);
- Small ulcers are visible in the mouth, longitudinal grooves are visible on the tongue (a characteristic sign of stomatitis);
- In addition to salivation, severe cough and high fever are observed;
- Children's teeth erupt in the wrong order.
Typically, an infant begins a period of active drooling after six months, when the first milk teeth erupt. However, in some cases this time begins much earlier - at three to four months. In this case, it is necessary to bring your baby to the doctor, since premature appearance of teeth may indicate rickets and other diseases.
To alleviate the condition, you can give your baby a special children's toy - a teether. When a newborn girl or boy chews or sucks such a rattle, the child gets rid of excess drool and pain in the gums, and therefore begins to feel better.
When the toddler turns one year old, the activity of the baby's salivary glands gradually slows down, but periodically resumes during the appearance of new pairs of milk teeth. At this time (up to 2.5 years), you should be especially attentive to the health and well-being of the baby and make sure that he does not suffocate from increased salivation during sleep.
Possible consequences and complications
What to do if your child is constantly sick
Situations when a child chokes on saliva are most often characteristic of acute respiratory diseases and the period of teething. There are usually no complications; any baby can choke or choke slightly, it’s not scary.
However, if a child chokes on mucus from a runny nose and finds it difficult to breathe, self-medication or improper treatment can lead to bronchitis (pneumonia). In this case, treatment with antibiotics will be required. If your baby starts coughing, you need to pay attention to this.
Constant contact of saliva on the chin of a newborn can lead to skin irritation: redness, itching, and discomfort.
In this case, it is recommended to lubricate the affected area with any moisturizing baby cream containing panthenol. Also, do not rub irritated skin with a towel.
If your baby begins to drool a lot, you can only gently blot it with soft cotton pads or a microfiber cloth.
Increased activity of the salivary glands is not a disease, but a normal physiological condition
Doctor Komarovsky's opinion
Komarovsky believes that cough due to strong salivation is most often caused by the appearance of teeth; this condition does not require treatment. Even a healthy child must cough sometimes to clear the nasopharynx of saliva and mucus. However, if the baby begins to choke, urgent medical attention is needed; self-medication is dangerous.
Attention! If during the period of teething the temperature rises above 38.5 degrees, most likely we can talk about an infection. This happens quite often, because during this period the child’s body becomes especially vulnerable.
The child’s body is particularly vulnerable and increased susceptibility to medications, so it is strictly forbidden to give the baby any medications without prior approval from the attending physician. The dosage should be appropriate to the age and (or) weight of the baby.
Source: https://kpoxa.info/zdorovie-pitanie/rebenok-davitsya-slyunoy-vo-sne.html
The child is choking and coughing
» Articles » Child chokes on saliva and coughs
Often, when there is strange behavior in their baby, young mothers look for answers on the Internet or from friends. As in the situation if a child chokes on saliva or snot. Instead of going to a pediatrician or ENT specialist, mothers self-medicate. This cannot be done. Let's figure out what is the reason for this situation and how to act?
If a child chokes on saliva or snot in a dream, it is imperative to seek help from a pediatrician.
- Peculiarities
- Causes
- Actions
- First aid
- Summary
Peculiarities
Even in the womb, the baby's salivary glands begin to work and produce saliva. By three months, the amount of saliva produced by the baby increases, and he, without having time to swallow it, may choke and cough. Parents should not panic if this situation does not cause discomfort in the baby.
Saliva at this age plays the role of a disinfectant. After all, a newborn begins to explore the world, and all objects that fall into his hands are pulled into his mouth.
Of course, parents will not be able to disinfect everything around them. But saliva comes into play. Its second function is pain relief.
When the baby is teething and the gums are swollen, it helps to survive this process easier, which is why it is produced in large quantities.
Copious secretion of saliva and snot is usually observed during teething.
The eruption of the baby's first teeth is additionally accompanied by the appearance of mucous discharge from the nose. Some mothers associate the occurrence of a runny nose with a viral infection and begin to stuff their child with all sorts of medications. Let's list the factors that lead to the release of a large amount of snot.
- Since the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose are nearby, with any inflammation of the gums the process rises higher, and the active production of mucus begins in the nasal cavity to fight a possible infection.
- When teething, the baby's immunity partially decreases, and the risk of contracting the virus increases.
- The mucous discharge “on the teeth” is transparent in color and ends 2-3 days after the eruption of the molar. A runny nose is characterized by copious discharge of snot and a change in color to yellow or green.
An increased amount of natural secretion can lead to the child choking and coughing.
Causes
If the amount of saliva produced does not bother the baby, then parents should not worry. But when the baby has a cold, and snot from the nose along with saliva goes down to the phlegm in the lungs, blockage of the airways occurs. Due to his age, the baby is unable to clear his throat and simply suffocates.
When the child is lying down or sleeping, parents should carefully monitor his condition, especially at night. After all, then the passage of secretions becomes difficult, and the baby may choke.
This is why control is very important.
A baby may choke on saliva if there is a pathology. When saliva is added to food while sucking on a breast or bottle, the baby is simply not able to swallow everything at once. This usually resolves within 3 years. At an older age, you should consult a pediatrician.
During teething, mucus from the nose flows down the back of the throat and usually provokes a cough. It is important to monitor the child at this time in order not to miss viral diseases and to exclude the occurrence of complications.
Excessive production of snot and saliva may indicate the presence of pathology.
Actions
To prevent a newborn from choking on excess saliva during sleep, you can place a blanket rolled up under the back, or use an anatomical pillow. This approach will eliminate the possibility of turning onto your back and prevent saliva from flowing into the airways. This approach can be used at night.
When snot appears, heavy breathing and “grunting” of the baby, it is necessary to determine the etiology of the disease. Only a pediatrician can find out the cause and prescribe treatment. If mucous discharge appears on the teeth, drug therapy is not required. You just need to make it easier for the baby to breathe and help get rid of snot.
First aid
What to do if, after all, the child chokes on saliva and begins to choke:
- Clearing the airways. Place the baby with his back to himself, wrap his arms around him and press sharply, but not too much, in the stomach area. Then, leaning forward a little, lightly spank between the shoulder blades with your palm.
- Clearing saliva while lying down. The baby is placed on his back, with his body higher than his head. Using two fingers, index and middle, make 4-5 compressions on the chest. After each pressure, the chest should straighten completely. Do not use force so as not to harm the baby.
Ways to free a child’s airways from excess saliva and snot.
After such procedures, allow the baby to cough. Breathing should level out and wheezing should go away.
If a child is choking and choking on snot:
- Buy a nozzle ejector at the pharmacy. A pear-shaped device will be useless because it will not be able to cope with thick mucus.
- Stock up on saline or other saline liquid. You can purchase a special salt spray for children.
- Prepare vasoconstrictor drops for the nasal cavity. Required only for infectious diseases.
Let's start the cleansing process:
- It is important to secure the child in a lying position on his back; you can swaddle him tightly.
- Inject saline solution into one nostril and immediately suction it out with an aspirator.
- Do the same for the second nostril.
- Repeat the procedure 2-3 times for each nasal passage until you see that the mucus has become thinner or is absent altogether.
- Apply vasoconstrictor drops according to the instructions. They will prevent infection from entering the inner ear. Any medications other than saline solution are allowed to be used only as prescribed by a pediatrician.
- On the third day, the mucus usually becomes less thick and will flow out of the nose on its own.
- Washing with saline solution should be carried out 3-5 times a day, depending on the child’s condition.
In any case, your actions will lead to tears and screams of the baby. You should not stop the procedure, because the presence of a large amount of snot in the nasal cavity can cause complications.
If the mucus is very viscous and it was not possible to get it out, then the right solution is to go to the ENT specialist.
Summary
The child's health comes first. If the saliva that is secreted or snot prevents the baby from breathing, he begins to choke and cough, you need to identify the cause of their appearance and act. For parents, the main thing is not to harm the baby, and to carry out any procedures only after agreement with the treating pediatrician.
Source: https://ogonek-nadym.ru/stati/rebenok-davitsya-slyunoj-i-kashlyaet.html
Dream Interpretation - Child
A child is a symbol of hope and the future.
If you dreamed that a child was bitten by an animal, then this dream indicates that in the future a large number of vampires will appear on Earth, who will primarily pose a serious danger to children.
For the dreamer, such a dream prophesies a meeting with the Antichrist, who will want to make him his disciple.
Seeing a pregnant man in a dream is a sign that in the future what has been talked about for many years will still happen, that is, the man will become pregnant and give birth to a child.
Perhaps this will not happen without the intervention of dark forces, but this fact will glorify this man and his child throughout the world.
If in a dream you saw a disabled child, then such a dream warns all of humanity about the danger posed by our polluted atmosphere.
For the dreamer, this dream prophesies a meeting with a person who will greatly need his help.