21/10/2025
Did you know that the tongue plays an important role when it comes to sleep?
Overnight, when our mouths are closed, and we breathe through our nose, our tongue settles in the hard palate. This helps to activate the vagus nerve, which in turn stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system - a function that allows our body to enter a state of ‘rest and digest’.
Ok, but Gemma what’s this got to do with my little one’s sleep?
Well if your little one mouth breathes overnight, it means the tongue cannot stimulate the vagus nerve and the body remains in a ‘fight or flight’ mode - not in a nice relaxed state we need for sleep!
That open mouthed breathing can be caused by things like nasal congestion from a cold, allergies and incorrect tongue posture, e.g from a tongue tie. If the mouth is open, the tongue won’t naturally settle where it needs to be (give it a try!)
If your little one is unsettled overnight, and you’ve tried lots of different things to help, it’s worth checking how they breathe. If you’ve noticed they constantly mouth breathe, or you’re concerned about incorrect tongue posture, I’d recommend starting some oral exercises, seeing an osteopath and also checking in with a tongue tie practitioner for an assessment!
Want to chat some more? Feel free to message if you have any questions! 👅
