Baby wheezing is a severe problem and needs immediate attention. Wheezing happens when the breathing or exhalation of air is obstructed, resulting in a whistling sound. It usually occurs when the airways are blocked by excessive mucous, swelling, or spasms of the bronchial tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. A baby with this condition will have trouble breathing and is unable to sleep well because of it.

The following sections will help you understand wheezing in babies better:

• Baby asthma
• Signs your baby has asthma
• Treatment for baby asthma

Wheezing in Babies

Wheezing is a whistling sound caused by a narrowing of the airways in the lungs. Wheezing can be mild and infrequent or severe, loud, and rapid. Wheezing can sound like snoring or raspy breathing because it causes turbulent airflow through narrowed airways.

If you have a doubt about that, you should watch for warning signs of respiratory distress in your baby:

• Coughing brings up phlegm (mucus) from deep in the chest – even if your child appears to have recovered from an illness.
• A persistent cough that keeps coming back despite home treatment with medicines. This means your child has developed asthma — inflammation of tiny tubes called bronchi within their lungs.

Reasons for the baby’s wheezing problem:

When your baby has a wheezing problem, it can be due to different reasons. However, some of the most common causes are:

Immature lungs. Babies are more prone to wheezing because their lungs are still developing. This may cause a lot of discomforts and difficulty breathing for babies, especially when they’re trying to sleep or in an enclosed space where air circulation is not very good (like a car).

Respiratory infection. An infection in the respiratory tract or airways (the tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs) makes it harder for oxygen to pass through them, leading to shortness of breath and sounds like breathlessness, known as wheezing.

Allergies. Allergies cause inflammation throughout various body systems (including the respiratory system), leading to coughing spasms or wheezing episodes if inflamed tissues become too swollen for proper airflow through the lungs’ most minor areas.

Signs when the baby has a wheezing problem:

• Breathing faster than usual
• Breathing with difficulty
• Breathing with a whistling sound
• Breathing with a noisy sound
• Breathing with a grunting sound (like an adult who is out of breath)
• Breathing with a rattling sound.

Tips to help your baby breathe easier

• Keep your baby at rest on their back. This will help the lungs expand fully. It may also help to keep your baby’s head tilted slightly.
• Put warm, moist air in the room where your baby sleeps. You can do this by running a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in the room. Use clean water and clean the humidifier according to the package directions. Keep the temperature in the room at about 70°F (21°C).
• Sit in a room with lots of steam from a hot shower, or sit in a bathroom with the door closed while running a hot shower. You can also run hot water into a sink or bowl and sit close to it while holding your child close to you.

Diagnosis for baby wheezing:

The doctor will ask you and your baby many questions about your baby’s symptoms and medical history. Then, the doctor will examine your baby and listen to your baby’s chest with a stethoscope.

If the doctor thinks that wheezing may be caused by allergies or another problem, they may order tests to find out more about what’s causing it.

Treatment for baby wheezing

The treatment your baby receives depends on the cause of their wheezing. It also depends on how quickly your baby’s symptoms come and go. The treatment options include medicines, allergy shots, allergy medications, and Allergy Control Products.

Remedies for baby wheezing

• If your baby’s wheezing is caused by an allergy, try giving them steam. Put a pot of water on the stove and bring it to a boil. Place a towel over your baby’s face and hold them close to the steam for about 10 minutes, ensuring that their face does not get too hot.
• You can also give your baby vitamin C to help with asthma or allergy symptoms. Good sources include oranges, broccoli, and red bell peppers—all foods are usually eaten raw in salads or smoothies. You might also want to consider supplementing with Vitamin D since this vitamin is often deficient in children with asthma or allergies due to lack of sunlight exposure (which helps produce vitamin D).

Conclusion

However, seeking medical advice and help is always essential if you think your baby is at risk. Many different causes of wheezing can be fatal, so you should never wait when it comes to treating an acute wheeze.

Other useful articles:

Newborn Sleep is Unpredictable

Home Remedies for common health problems