It can be difficult to determine if your child’s breathing is normal or something more concerning. While concerning breathing should always be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional, the American Academy of Pediatrics has some notes on what to look out for.

• What can noisy breathing mean?
  • Congestion
    • Significant nasal congestion can cause noisy breathing
  • Bronchiolitis
    • The most common cause of this under the age of 2 is RSV
  • Asthma
    • Recurrent episodes of wheezing
    • The main cause of noisy breathing after age 2
  • Foreign object
    • Sudden onset of noisy breathing, coughing, and/or choking
    • Peak age for this is 1 to 4 years of age
    • Seek medical attention right away!
• When to be concerned
  • Difficulty breathing, blue color of the lips and/or face, inability to cry
  • Sudden change in your child’s level of consciousness
  • If you are concerned your child may be choking on a foreign body (food/candy, a toy, etc.)

As always, if you have any concerns about your child’s breathing, please contact your pediatrician or healthcare provider right away. Here are some links from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Wheezing%20(Other%20Than%20Asthma)
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Noisy-Breathing-in-Children.aspx