Promoting Airway Health & Healthy Nasal Breathing
If you’re a parent in the Philadelphia or greater Philly area looking to support your baby or child’s breathing, sleep, or feeding, airway health is an essential place to start. At B.well tots, we support families across Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs with airway-informed pediatric care focused on healthy nasal breathing from infancy through childhood.
How a child breathes—especially whether they breathe through their nose or mouth—can impact sleep quality, feeding success, speech development, behavior, and long-term facial growth. Early support for airway health can help prevent bigger challenges later on.
Why Nasal Breathing Matters for Children in the Philadelphia Area
Healthy nasal breathing supports:
Proper oxygen delivery to the brain and body
Jaw, palate, and facial development
Nervous system regulation and calmer behavior
Efficient feeding and swallowing
Restful, restorative sleep
In contrast, chronic mouth breathing in children has been linked to:
Snoring and disrupted sleep
Feeding difficulties in infants
Speech and articulation challenges
Narrow palate and dental crowding
Daytime fatigue, difficulty focusing, and behavioral concerns
Supporting nasal breathing early is a powerful way to promote long-term health for children in the Philly area.
Airway Health for Babies (0–12 Months)
Support Nasal Breathing During Feeding
Feeding is one of the first places airway challenges show up in infants.
Helpful strategies:
Ensure your baby’s nose is clear before feeds
Use upright or semi-upright feeding positions
Watch for clicking, coughing, milk leakage, or frequent unlatching
If feeding feels stressful or exhausting, families in Philadelphia may benefit from airway-informed feeding support.
Assess Oral Restrictions When Needed
Tongue ties, lip ties, and cheek restrictions can affect breathing, feeding, and oral development.
Possible signs include:
Difficulty latching or maintaining suction
Clicking sounds or leaking milk
Open-mouth posture at rest
Mouth breathing even when calm
Early evaluation by trained pediatric providers in the Philadelphia area can support optimal airway development.
Encourage Tummy Time and Free Movement
Movement supports airway health by strengthening the neck, jaw, and oral muscles. Daily tummy time and minimizing prolonged time in baby containers help support healthy breathing patterns.
Supporting Nasal Breathing in Toddlers and Preschoolers
Keep the Nose Clear
Many toddlers mouth breathe simply because their nose feels blocked.
Support nasal breathing by:
Gently suctioning before sleep when needed
Running a humidifier during dry seasons
Reducing environmental allergens common in the Philadelphia region
Encourage Healthy Oral Resting Posture
At rest, children should ideally have:
Lips gently closed
Tongue resting on the roof of the mouth
Nasal breathing
Modeling nasal breathing and offering gentle reminders during calm moments can help reinforce this pattern.
Support Chewing and Oral Motor Development
Chewing helps develop the jaw and supports airway growth. Offering developmentally appropriate foods that encourage chewing can play an important role in airway health for young children. Teethers are a great way to prepare for solids (starting with teethers around 3 months!) and encourage oral motor development throughout the first year! Here are our solids tools and recs to support a combo approach to solids, focusing on nutrient dense foods in consumable forms, along with baby led weaning. It’s so important for toddlers to work on hard to chew foods that encourage strong jaw development!
Airway Health for School-Age Children
Watch for Sleep-Related Breathing Concerns
Sleep is one of the clearest indicators of airway health.
Red flags include:
Snoring or noisy breathing
Mouth breathing during sleep
Restless sleep or frequent waking
Arched back sleeping position
Bedwetting beyond expected ages
Daytime fatigue or attention challenges
Families noticing these signs may benefit from an airway-informed evaluation.
Support Posture and Breathing Patterns
Posture affects how well children breathe. Encouraging movement breaks, reducing prolonged screen time, and supporting ergonomic seating can all help improve breathing efficiency.
Build Awareness Without Anxiety
For older children, simple breathing awareness can be helpful:
“Smell the flower, blow out the candle” breathing
Calm check-ins about mouth vs. nose breathing
Relaxing bedtime routines that support nasal breathing
The goal is support—not perfection.
Pediatric Airway Support in the Philadelphia Area
At B.well tots, we provide pediatric occupational and speech therapy and airway-informed care for babies and children throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Our approach supports feeding, oral motor development, posture, regulation, and healthy breathing patterns—always with the whole child in mind.
📍 Serving families across the Philadelphia and greater Philly area
📞 Schedule an airway-informed pediatric evaluation today.
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