Focus On Better Breathing For Children This Winter

Children may encounter breathing problems during the coldest months of the year, which can impact their quality of life. To keep the littlest lungs in your family healthy during winter, it’s important for parents to know what respiratory signs to look for and when to see the doctor.

Air Quality

Air quality issues can occur indoors and outdoors. Indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the American Lung Association.

This becomes more prevalent during winter months because when you seal up your home to maintain heat, you also may be trapping mold, dust and other pollutants inside that could create respiratory distress.

Avoid indoor breathing triggers like smoking, vaping, candles and incense.

Check with a doctor if your child has a prolonged cough, congestion, faster breathing or low energy.

Asthma & Allergies

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that’s linked to air pollution, exposure to smoke or chemicals. Dust, mold and pests can also be triggers for children.

Watch your child closely if you observe wheezing, noisy breathing, coughing or breathlessness.

Outdoor environmental triggers include pollen, grass and weeds. Dust, mold and pet dander can cause indoor allergic reactions.

Other Medical Conditions

Babies and young children are at risk for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and croup during winter months. These illnesses bring along barking coughs and difficulty breathing. Home remedies that may help ease the respiratory distress include humidifiers, steam and a damp washcloth across the forehead or other parts of the body.

Almost all children will have had an RSV by their second birthday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Stress

Deep breathing techniques are not just useful for adults. When children are anxious or experiencing stress, slow, focused breathing has been found to calm the body in young children as well as teens.

One technique is referred to as belly breathing (also called diaphragmatic breathing) and is easy to do anywhere and at any time.

Guide children by asking them to place one hand on their belly and the other on their chest. Ask them to slowly breathe in through their nose and out through the mouth, taking notice of the belly expanding and contracting.

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