My baby coughs and snores while sleeping, what could cause this?

Coughing and snoring together usually signal a blockage or narrowing in the upper airway. The most common cause is nasal congestion combined with postnasal drip (mucus that accumulates in the evening and drains into the throat when lying down). This pattern is especially common in allergic babies or during mild upper respiratory infections. Another possibility is adenoid enlargement, which is quite common in babies; if snoring is prominent and constant (every night, not just when sick), evaluation by an ENT specialist may be needed.

If coughing is unproductive (without phlegm) and worsens at night, this is often positional. Slightly elevating your baby's head (tilting the bed head 15-20 degrees, not with a pillow) can help. Overly dry air in the room can also trigger snoring and coughing; a humidifier can help.

However, snoring with coughing can sometimes signal a more serious condition. If you notice rib retractions when breathing, bluish coloring around lips, frequent choking during feeding, or signs of breathlessness—or if snoring is very loud and constant—your baby needs evaluation by a pediatrician. Prolonged nighttime coughing beyond 2 weeks shouldn't be ignored.