In the evening, you peek into their room: mouth wide open, a little drool on the pillow, maybe a snore. It's one of the things parents describe to us most often. It's not an emergency, but it's not nothing either when it happens every night. Here's how to understand what's going on, and what to do.
Take the quiz: is their pillow the right one?
Normally, a child breathes through the nose while sleeping
At night, the mouth is supposed to stay closed and air should travel through the nose, where it's filtered, warmed, and humidified before reaching the lungs. A child who opens their mouth a few nights during a cold is nothing to worry about. What should get your attention is when an open mouth becomes a habit, night after night, even without a cold.
The parents who write to us describe it in their own words:
"My son snores and sleeps with his mouth open."
"He mostly drools on the pillow."
"My son always has dark circles and looks tired."
Why does my child sleep with their mouth open?
There are several possible causes, and they can add up:
1. A stuffy nose
A cold, allergies (dust mites, dust, pet dander), or air that's too dry or too warm in the bedroom: when the nose won't let air through, the mouth takes over.
2. Large adenoids or tonsils
In children, large adenoids (behind the nose) or tonsils can get in the way of airflow. Only a doctor can check this: it's one of the first things a pediatrician or an ENT doctor (ear, nose, and throat specialist) will look at.
3. Head position during the night
This is the simplest cause, and the one most often overlooked. On a pillow that's too high (often an adult pillow) or too soft, the child's head tips: the chin goes back or drops toward the chest, the jaw relaxes, and the mouth falls open. Even a child who breathes well through the nose during the day can end up sleeping with their mouth open.
4. Habit
After weeks of a stuffy nose, some children keep breathing through the mouth even once the nose is clear. You may notice it during the day too: mouth slightly open in front of a screen, dry lips.
Is sleeping with the mouth open a problem?
Now and then, no. But when it happens every night, it can have effects:
- less restful sleep: a child may sleep a long time and still wake up tired, cranky, with dark circles;
- snoring, a dry mouth, and drool on the pillow;
- harder days: tiredness, a shorter fuse, more trouble concentrating;
- over the long term, dentists, orthodontists, and ENT doctors pay close attention to mouth breathing in children, because the position of the tongue and jaws plays a role in how the face and teeth grow.
Several parents have told us what they were hoping for when they changed pillows:
"That she sleeps with her mouth closed."
"No drool on the pillow and breathing through the nose."
What to do if my child sleeps with their mouth open
What you can check yourself, starting tonight:
- Their nose: is it stuffy? Rinsing the nose with saline before bed can help during a cold.
- Their room: not too warm or too dry, aired out every day, bedding washed regularly (dust mites).
- Their pillow: watch them sleep. Is the head in line with the back, or does the chin tip back or toward the chest? If their pillow is an adult's, it's almost always too high for them.
- How many nights: for a week, jot down whether they sleep with their mouth open, whether they snore, and whether they wake up tired. This will be very useful if you see a doctor.
Who should you see?
If your child sleeps with their mouth open most nights, even without a cold, start with your pediatrician. Depending on what they find, they may refer you to:
- an ENT doctor (pediatric ENT), to check the nose, adenoids, and tonsils;
- a dentist or orthodontist, for the position of the teeth and jaws;
- a speech therapist or a physical therapist who specializes in this, if the mouth-breathing habit persists.
See a doctor right away if your child snores loudly every night, seems to stop breathing for a few seconds during sleep, has trouble breathing, or is very tired during the day. A pillow never replaces medical advice.
The pillow's role: keeping the head in the right line
When the cause is position (or when it adds to a slightly stuffy nose), the pillow makes a real difference. The Lymphelia Kids Posture Pillow was designed for exactly that:
- a dip in the center that holds the head in place so it doesn't roll or tip;
- neck support that keeps the head in line with the back: the jaw stays closed more easily and air flows through the nose;
- a height suited to each age, because a pillow that's too high is exactly what makes the head tip.
| Child's age | Lymphelia size | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 years | Pillow, ages 1 to 3 | 2 to 4 cm (about 0.8 to 1.6 in) |
| 3 to 8 years | Pillow, ages 3 to 8 | 4 to 6 cm (about 1.6 to 2.4 in) |
| 8 to 18 years | Pillow, ages 8 to 18 | 6 to 9 cm (about 2.4 to 3.5 in) |
Not sure which size to pick? The 1-minute quiz gives you one based on your child's age and what you see at night.
Try it at home, risk-free
- 100-night trial: your child uses it, and if it isn't right for them, you send it back and get a refund.
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Frequently asked questions
My child sleeps with their mouth open but breathes through the nose during the day. Is that normal?
It's common. Often it's head position during the night that makes the mouth open, for example with a pillow that's too high or too soft. Check their pillow, and talk to your pediatrician if it continues or if they snore.
He sleeps with his mouth open and snores: what should I do?
Start with an appointment with your pediatrician, who will check the nose, adenoids, and tonsils, among other things. If he snores loudly every night or seems to pause while breathing, see a doctor right away.
Why does my child drool while sleeping?
When the mouth stays open all night, saliva runs onto the pillow. It's often a sign that the mouth isn't closing during sleep.
Can a pillow stop a child from sleeping with their mouth open?
A pillow doesn't treat a stuffy nose or enlarged adenoids. But when the mouth opens because the head tips, a pillow at the right height that keeps the head in line helps the mouth stay closed. That's the whole idea behind the Lymphelia pillow.
At what age should I worry?
At any age, if it becomes a habit outside of colds. For babies under 1 year old, no pillow: talk to your pediatrician directly.
Which pillow size should I choose?
Ages 1 to 3: 2 to 4 cm (about 0.8 to 1.6 in). Ages 3 to 8: 4 to 6 cm (about 1.6 to 2.4 in). Ages 8 to 18: 6 to 9 cm (about 2.4 to 3.5 in). The quiz helps if your child is between sizes.