Child Snoring and Allergies: When to Worry and What Helps

Snoring is common in young children, and it’s often linked to allergies and asthma. In an Australian study of nearly 1,000 preschoolers, about 1 in 10 snored regularly, and snoring was linked to both nighttime cough and asthma. Snoring can also be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, which is why the American Academy of Pediatrics says all children should be screened for it.

This guide explains the link between snoring, allergies and asthma, the warning signs of sleep apnea, and what treatments can help. For more, see our asthma and seasonal allergy guides.

Jump to: Quick answer · The allergy and asthma link · Snoring vs sleep apnea · When to see a doctor · What helps · FAQ

Quick answer

• Common: 10.5% of preschoolers in an Australian study snored regularly.
• Linked to asthma and night cough: children who snored had about twice the odds of asthma and more than three times the odds of nighttime cough.
• Screen for sleep apnea: the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening all children for snoring, and a sleep study for those who snore and have signs of sleep apnea.
• Allergies can block the nose: the ACAAI lists sleep problems among complications of hay fever.
• Treatment depends on the cause, from allergy control and nasal steroid sprays to removing enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

How snoring, allergies and asthma are linked

In a 2003 study published in Chest, researchers randomly selected 974 children aged 2 to 5 from two areas of New South Wales, Australia.

The authors suggested snoring, asthma and nighttime cough may share a common cause, so treating one might help the others. Allergies are one plausible link: the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology notes that hay fever can cause poor-quality sleep from a blocked nose and lists sleep disorders among its complications.

For more on nighttime symptoms in kids, see why kids’ allergies get worse at night.

Snoring vs obstructive sleep apnea

Most snoring is harmless, but in some children it’s a sign of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. The AAP’s 2012 guideline focuses on OSA linked to enlarged tonsils and adenoids or obesity in otherwise healthy children. Things worth telling your pediatrician about include snoring most nights, pauses in breathing or gasping during sleep, restless sleep and daytime tiredness. Your pediatrician can decide whether further testing is needed.

When to see a doctor

• Your child snores regularly, most nights of the week.
• You notice pauses in breathing, gasping or choking during sleep.
• Your child has a stuffy nose most of the time, or hay fever symptoms that don’t improve.
• Your child coughs or wheezes at night, which can be a sign of asthma.
• Your child is unusually tired, irritable or having trouble in school.

According to the AAP guideline, children who snore and have symptoms or signs of OSA should have a sleep study (polysomnography), or be referred to a specialist if a sleep study isn’t available.

What helps

If allergies are part of the problem

• Find the triggers: an allergist can test for dust mites, pets, pollen and mold.
• Allergy-proof the bedroom: encase pillows and mattresses, wash bedding weekly in hot water, keep humidity below 50% and keep pets out. See how to sleep better with allergies.
• Ask about treatment: nasal steroid sprays are the most effective drug class for hay fever, according to ACAAI; saline rinses may help too. See saline rinses for kids.

If it’s sleep apnea

The AAP guideline recommends:

• Removing the tonsils and adenoids as first-line treatment when they’re enlarged.
• CPAP if surgery isn’t done or OSA continues afterward.
• Weight loss, alongside other treatment, for children who are overweight.
• Nasal steroid sprays as an option for mild OSA when surgery isn’t suitable or for mild OSA remaining after surgery.

Avoid tobacco smoke around children, which irritates the airways; see our asthma FAQ for other triggers.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

Can allergies cause snoring in children?

They can contribute. A blocked nose from hay fever disrupts sleep, and in an Australian study, snoring was linked to asthma and nighttime cough in preschoolers.

How common is snoring in kids?

About 10.5% of children aged 2 to 5 snored regularly in an Australian study of 974 children.

When is a child’s snoring a problem?

When it happens most nights or comes with breathing pauses, gasping, restless sleep or daytime tiredness. These can be signs of sleep apnea; talk to your pediatrician.

Do nasal sprays help kids who snore?

Nasal steroid sprays treat hay fever and are an option for mild sleep apnea in some children, according to the AAP. Ask your child’s doctor first.

Is tonsil removal needed for snoring?

Only if a child has sleep apnea with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, where the AAP recommends it as first-line treatment.

Sources

• Lu LR, Peat JK, Sullivan CE. Snoring in preschool children: prevalence and association with nocturnal cough and asthma. Chest. 2003;124(2):587-593.
• Marcus CL, Brooks LJ, Draper KA, et al. Diagnosis and management of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):576-584.
• American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Hay fever (rhinitis). Reviewed June 17, 2020.

Last reviewed: October 21, 2026.