How do you feed a baby with laryngomalacia?

Hold your child in an upright position during feeding and at least 30 minutes after feeding. This helps keep food from coming back up. Burp your child gently and often during feeding. Don’t give your child juices or foods such as orange juice or oranges that can upset your child’s stomach.

What triggers laryngomalacia?

The exact cause of laryngomalacia is unknown, but it may be caused by immaturity and low muscle tone of the upper airway. The voice box is called the larynx and is located behind the tongue and above the windpipe (trachea).

What age does laryngomalacia occur?

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of noisy breathing in infants. More than half of infants have noisy breathing during the first week of life, and most develop this by 2-4 weeks of age.

Is laryngomalacia life threatening?

While many children do outgrow laryngomalacia, others require surgery, and that is often done before a child’s first birthday. Apnea and cyanosis can be life-threatening, so don’t hesitate to call 911 if your child is ever in distress.

How can I help my baby with laryngomalacia?

Most of the time, laryngomalacia gets better on its own, usually by a baby’s first birthday. Doctors will do regular exams to check the baby’s breathing and weight. Because most babies also have GER, doctors usually prescribe anti-reflux medicine.

Do babies with laryngomalacia have trouble sleeping?

This can result in prolonged feeding times which is frustrating for both the child and parent. Sometimes the feeding difficulties are so severe the infant has trouble gaining weight. Moderate-severe laryngomalacia can result in sleeping difficulties and pauses in the breathing (apneic spells).

How do you fix laryngomalacia?

Infants with severe laryngomalacia usually need surgery. A supraglottoplasty is usually recommended. The floppy tissue above the vocal cords is trimmed in the operating room under general anesthesia. The surgery is performed through the mouth.

How do you treat laryngomalacia?

Treatment. In 90 percent of cases, laryngomalacia resolves without treatment by the time your child is 18 to 20 months old. However, if the laryngomalacia is severe, your child’s treatment may include medication or surgery.

Is laryngomalacia a birth defect?

Laryngomalacia (also known as laryngealmalacia) is a condition that results from a birth defect in your child’s voice box (larynx). The soft tissues of the larynx fall over the airway opening and partially block it. This can result in stridor — a high-pitched sound that is heard when your child inhales.

Does laryngomalacia cause SIDS?

Laryngomalacia: a cause for early near miss for SIDS.

Can laryngomalacia cause feeding problems?

Many babies with laryngomalacia also have problems with feeding. Babies with moderate to severe laryngomalacia often have difficulty coordinating their feeding and breathing so they need to take frequent breaks during feeding.

What are the signs and symptoms of laryngomalacia?

Signs and Symptoms. The main symptom of laryngomalacia is noisy breathing when your child breathes in. This is called inspiratory stridor. Stridor may: Change with activity. It may be louder when your child is upset, crying, or is excited. Be louder when your child has a cold.

What is the prognosis of laryngomalacia?

Laryngomalacia Prognosis. In the majority of cases, the condition is harmless and heals on its own with time – without the need for any medical intervention. The stridor tends to get worse as a baby grows; only to disappear slowly as the cartilage and the tissue begins to get stronger and support the larynx.

When your child has laryngomalacia?

If your child is born with laryngomalacia, symptoms may be present at birth, and can become more obvious within the first few weeks of life. It is not uncommon for the noisy breathing to get worse before it improves, usually around 4 to 8 months of age. Most children outgrow laryngomalacia by 18 to 20 months of age.

Is abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing normal in infants?

Abdominal breathing is the right type of breathing for infants and children. In adults, diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing is still retained but chest breathing will become the involuntary norm. Abdominal breathing in children and in infants is normal. In fact, it is the natural instinct of infants and babies to do diaphragmatic breathing.