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
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.
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.
At what age can you give your baby milk?
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
What to do when a newborn chokes on milk
When you see your newborn choking on breast milk but may be coughing, letting him cough is the best way to clear his airway.
When there is no cough, the baby tries to inhale to no avail, and his face takes on a bluish tint. An adult needs to quickly turn the baby onto his stomach and put him on his hand, lowering it on his knee. The butt should be higher than the head. Slam your hand between your shoulder blades up to five times. This method is effective in most cases.
If the child still cannot breathe:
- Turn him over on his back
- Place on a hard surface
- Move his head to the side
- Press your fingers inward on the lower chest/upper abdomen.
These actions must be done carefully so as not to damage the internal organs. The technique is more suitable for removing solid foreign bodies.
If the outcome is successful, you should consult a doctor, since the child could have suffered as a result of the measures described above. If all actions are unsuccessful, artificial respiration should be performed.
When you need a doctor's help
How to tell if a newborn has a fever
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.
What to do in serious cases
If an infant has choked on milk, lost consciousness and is breathing heavily, immediate action must be taken. Follow the instructions below:
- Kneel at right angles to the baby's chest
- Place one hand on his forehead and gently lower his head back. The head and neck should be on the same line. Avoid excessive bending of the neck
- Using your other hand, lift his chin with your finger.
- Carefully examine the newborn baby and remove any foreign bodies from the nose or mouth if any are present.
- Check his breathing (look closely, listen, bring your hand to the baby’s nose), but this should take you no more than 10 seconds, there is no time to waste
- If he is not breathing, begin artificial respiration and chest compressions.
- If someone else is near you, ask them to call an ambulance.
Possible consequences and complications
What are the types of boogers in a baby's nose - the main types
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
How to perform artificial respiration and chest compressions?
First, artificial respiration is performed, and then indirect cardiac massage.
Artificial respiration
The procedure for performing artificial respiration when a baby has choked on milk:
- Clear the child's airways with a handkerchief or clean cloth;
- Cover your baby's nose and mouth with your lips;
- Inhale air into his lungs, make sure that the baby's chest rises as he inhales (for a newborn, the air that an adult can get by simply inflating his cheeks is enough);
- When your baby's chest rises, stop inhaling and let it fall.
Repeat these steps 2 times.
Heart massage
Then perform a cardiac massage. The procedure is as follows:
- Make sure the newborn is on a firm surface.
- Place two fingers in the center of the baby's chest, exactly 1 finger width below the line between the nipples.
- Gently but quickly press down to a depth of approximately 4 centimeters, but no more. Do 30 presses (speed should be 100 presses per minute).
In total, you need to take 2 breaths, 30 presses, 2 breaths, 30 presses, and so on.
Breathe and massage for two minutes before asking for help (if no one else is available to do so). Continue resuscitation measures until signs of life appear or until medical personnel arrive.
Naturally, it is difficult to perform resuscitation actions without training. To gain the necessary experience and, if something happens, to clearly know what to do when a newborn chokes on milk, we recommend taking a first aid course.
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.
Functional causes of regurgitation
Due to the physiological immaturity of the sphincter located between the stomach and esophagus. After food products pass through it, it may not close. Food can easily pass through the esophagus into the oral cavity. In children of the first year of life, this sphincter is poorly developed and may not work well.
- the structure of the gastrointestinal tract (a child’s esophagus differs from the structure of an adult). When the baby lies down, it is easier for food to move back into the esophagus and ultimately into the oral cavity.
- active movements after eating (turns, games).
- overeating (applies to all types of feeding).
- food is not according to the regime. This applies to "artificial babies" who are often fed as if they were breastfed, i.e. on demand. The mixture takes much longer to digest. Eating food not according to a schedule, regime, but at will, on demand, creates excess pressure on the bottom of the stomach, preventing food from being digested normally, so regurgitation may occur.
- the mixture is chosen incorrectly;
- swallowing air during feeding (baby sucks quickly);
- incorrectly attached to the breast, the bottle is positioned incorrectly, read more about breastfeeding positions here;
- with a sudden change of position after eating (swaddling, massage, games).
- due to the resulting pressure on the abdominal cavity - a narrow diaper, a tight diaper, colic, gas, constipation.
- congenital defects of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases associated with neurology, intestinal obstruction.
- poisoning
- diseases and injuries: hyperthermia, head injury, acute respiratory viral infection, pylorospasm, pyloric stenosis
- Pylorospasm and pyloric stenosis.
What is pylorospasm? The pyloric section of the stomach is the section where the stomach passes into the duodenum. Muscle spasm in this area is called pylorospasm. In such a situation, food does not pass into the stomach or passes through with difficulty, which causes regurgitation.What is pyloric stenosis? This is a phenomenon where food does not pass or passes with difficulty from the stomach to the intestinal area. This condition requires surgical treatment.
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Actions to prevent regurgitation
- hold in a column after feeding until burping;
- do not place on the stomach after eating;
- if the child is bottle-fed, then after consulting a doctor, you can choose an antirefluxor formula. It will prevent regurgitation due to its thickness;
- We do not play active games after feeding, we do not swaddle. Due to the physiological immaturity of the sphincter located between the stomach and esophagus. After food products pass through it, it may not close. Food can easily pass through the esophagus into the oral cavity. In children of the first year of life, this sphincter is poorly developed and may not work well.
