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First-born children are more likely to snore than their siblings, according to new sleep research.
The Australian study of children with respiratory problems has found that childhood snoring is different to snoring among adults.
While adult snoring is sparked by breathing problems, among kids the condition is closely linked to the spectrum of childhood allergic diseases like asthma.
"So while the condition looks and sounds similar in adults and children it can have quite different causes and risk factors," said investigator Dr Nat Marshall, from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research.
The research shows that first-born children are more prone to the condition, as are children exposed to maternal tobacco smoke during the first year of life.
Those who had asthma or eczema were more also likely to snore, according to the study published in the international medical journal Paediatric Pulmonology.
Breastfeeding, birth weight and body mass did not affect risk.
The team studied 213 children with rhinitis, a respiratory condition affecting the nose and found almost 60 per cent snored at least once a week.
They aimed to investigate whether the risk factors for snoring among pre-school children with rhinitis were similar to those for allergic diseases.
"In adults habitual snoring is seen as being caused by anatomical problems in the airway or obesity," Dr Marshall said. "But in children it seems that snoring is much more closely related allergy and inflammation."
While the study findings are limited to children with rhinitis, Dr Marshall said many of the risk factors could apply to the general population.
- AAP
