Why Is My Child Sleeping Like That?!

Ashley Roberts
Mar 2
2 min read

(And Other Things Your Myo Therapist Notices)

At Funny Face Myo, we don’t just look at teeth.

We look at tongues.

We look at lips.

We look at how your child breathes when they’re watching TV.

And yes… sometimes we notice how they sleep in the car seat.

Because here’s the thing:

The face tells a story.

And sometimes that story sounds like:

Snoring at 5 years old
Open-mouth sleeping
Thumbsucking habit that just won’t quit
Grinding that wakes the whole house
Dark circles that no amount of sleep seems to fix
Energy that is so over-active no amount of outside time can help
Their focus that only lasts for 30 seconds or under.

Let’s talk about why that matters.

Mouth Breathing: The Sneaky Habit Nobody Talks About

If your child breathes through their mouth more than their nose, their body is working harder than it should.

Nasal breathing:

✔ Filters air

✔ Warms and humidifies it

✔ Supports jaw development

✔ Encourages proper tongue posture

Mouth breathing? Not so much.

Over time, chronic mouth breathing can contribute to:

Narrow palate
Crowding
Forward head posture
Poor sleep quality
Behavioural challenges from fragmented sleep

And the wild part? It often starts subtly.

A stuffy nose. A cold that never quite resolved.

Enlarged tonsils.

Allergies.

Then the body adapts.

The Tongue: The Most Underrated Muscle in the Body

The tongue should rest gently on the roof of the mouth, not at the bottom like it’s on vacation.

When it doesn’t:

The palate can grow high and narrow
Teeth can crowd
Swallowing patterns can change
The airway may not develop optimally

We call this “low tongue posture,” and it’s incredibly common.

The good news?

Muscles can be retrained.

“Will They Grow Out of It?”

This is the question we hear most.

Sometimes habits fade .But airway patterns? Swallow patterns? Rest posture?

Those usually don’t just disappear on their own.

Early intervention is powerful because we’re guiding growth while the body is still developing.

What Happens at Funny Face Myo?

We assess:

Breathing patterns
Tongue mobility and strength
Lip seal
Oral motor function
Swallow function
Oral habits
Sleep red flags
Overall body posture

Then we create a customized, playful plan that fits into real family life.

Because therapy should feel doable, not overwhelming.

Think:

Suction holds
Lip strengthening
Nasal breathing games
Habit elimination strategies
Parent education (without guilt)

This Isn’t About Perfect.

It’s About Function.

At Funny Face Myo, we aren’t chasing perfection.

We’re supporting:

Better sleep
Better breathing
Better development
Better long-term outcomes

And sometimes that starts with noticing that your child sleeps like a little starfish with their mouth wide open.

No shame.

Just information.

And from there...... we build better habits and awareness!

If you’ve been wondering whether your child’s breathing, sleep, or oral habits aren't “normal”… trust that instinct.

Curiosity is often the first step toward clarity.

I'm here when you need that assessment for you or your child 🤍

Ashley

Funny Face Myofunctional Therapy