The Silent Struggle: Our Story With Childhood Sleep Apnea

I want to talk about something incredibly important this month: childhood sleep apnea. It’s a topic that hits close to home because I experienced it firsthand with my own daughter, Winnie. Just last week, during my Q&A, I had a question from someone about their child sleeping with their mouth open and whether it was really a big deal. And I’m here to tell you—it really is.

Because of my personal journey, I’ve made it a priority in my business to ensure that every consultant I train is educated by medical professionals who specialize in pediatric sleep disorders. And every single one of them has said the same thing: Mouth breathing is NOT normal and should always be evaluated.

So, I thought I’d revisit a blog I wrote back in 2021, a year after Winnie had her tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. It was a tough journey, but I would make that decision again in a heartbeat. I get why doctors don’t want to rush into surgery. I also get why parents wonder if sleep apnea could be the reason their child isn’t sleeping, or if it’s all just behavioral. But let me tell you: sleep apnea is no joke.

Winnie’s Story: The Long Road to Diagnosis

From birth, Winnie was a great sleeper (don’t hate me yet—this story takes a turn!). But around age 2.5–3, she started snoring. As a sleep consultant, I knew that snoring can be the first sign of sleep apnea, but she seemed otherwise fine. She was happy, healthy, and growing, so I let it go.

Then, little things started adding up:

• She still needed naps when most of her peers had dropped them.
• She struggled to focus in activities like dance and gymnastics.
• She frequently fell asleep in the car—even on short trips.
• She had night terrors so intense they were disturbing.
• She started bedwetting again after a full year of staying dry.
• She had hyperactivity and emotional outbursts that seemed extreme.

We saw an ENT, who reassured us that some kids just snore and need more sleep. He offered a sleep study, but I declined—I felt silly and didn’t want to put her through something invasive just to ease my own worries.

Big mistake.

Things got worse. Teachers mentioned possible hearing issues. At home, she was constantly exhausted, emotional, and overwhelmed. By the time she hit kindergarten—where naps weren’t an option—it all came to a head. She was a wreck. And I knew something had to give.

Getting a diagnosis

We got the sleep study done (finally!) and it confirmed mild childhood sleep apnea. The ENT took one look at her and scheduled surgery for a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and ear tubes. I sobbed. Surgery felt like such a drastic step. But my gut told me we were doing the right thing.

The Surgery & Recovery

The procedure was quick, but recovery was brutal. Keeping a miserable, dehydrated child drinking fluids was an absolute nightmare. Missing the pain relief window by even 15 minutes? A disaster. We co-slept, woke her up for meds, and powered through. And then—just a few days later—
The snoring was gone.

She was brighter, happier, more engaged. Within two weeks, she was back to school, and within months, she was a completely different kid. Her focus improved, she stopped bedwetting, she was rested. She was back.

What I Want You to Know

Some level of snoring can be normal, and some kids do grow out of it. But if your child is:

• Snoring regularly
• Mouth breathing
• Extremely tired during the day
• Wetting the bed after being dry for a while
• Experiencing hyperactivity or night terrors

…it might be time to talk to your doctor and push for a sleep study. It took us two years to get the right help, and I wish I had trusted my instincts sooner.
Getting that sleep study? Best. Parenting. Decision. Ever.

If you’ve been wondering about your child’s sleep and whether apnea could be an issue, I hope this helps. Trust your gut. Get the referral. Do the study. And if you need help navigating it all, you know where to find me.

To restful nights and happy mornings,