Yes, newborns can breathe and swallow at the same time as their body has separate pathways for these actions. The epiglottis, a small flap of cartilage, covers the windpipe while eating, allowing them to breathe through their nose while food or liquid passes into their throat.
An expanded response to your question
Yes, newborns can indeed breathe and swallow simultaneously due to the anatomy of their body. The epiglottis, a small flap of cartilage located at the base of the tongue, plays a crucial role in facilitating this dual action. As the baby consumes food or liquid, the epiglottis covers the opening of the windpipe, known as the larynx, ensuring that the swallowed material goes down the esophagus into the stomach instead of entering the lungs. This allows newborns to breathe through their noses while effectively managing their feeding process.
Interesting facts about newborns breathing and swallowing at the same time:
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The ability to breathe and swallow concurrently is a fundamental aspect of a newborn’s physiology, ensuring their respiratory and nutritional needs are met.
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The epiglottis in infants is positioned in a way that naturally facilitates both breathing and swallowing simultaneously, allowing for a smooth transition between the two actions.
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Unlike adults or older children who primarily breathe through their mouths, newborns predominantly breathe through their noses. This is why they can continue to breathe while feeding.
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According to Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist Dr. Joseph J. Grennan, “Newborns have an anatomical advantage. Their larynx is positioned higher in the neck, making it easier for the epiglottis to cover the airway during swallowing.”
To further illustrate the concept, here is a simple table highlighting the differences between adult and newborn airway anatomy during swallowing:
| Aspect | Adults | Newborns |
|---|---|---|
| Position of the Larynx | Lower in the neck | Higher in the neck |
| Epiglottis Coverage | Partial during swallowing | Complete coverage during swallowing |
| Breathing Route | Through both mouth and nose | Primarily through the nose |
It’s essential to note that while newborns can breathe and swallow simultaneously, proper supervision during feeding is crucial to ensure their safety and prevent choking incidents.
See related video
In the YouTube video “Can Babies Breathe and Swallow at the Same Time?” the host discusses the theory that newborns can perform both actions simultaneously. However, the video shares information from a Pediatric article that refutes this notion, stating that it is incorrect and potentially dangerous. The article explains that while newborns have a high-positioned larynx, the presence of the epiglottis partially covering the larynx poses a risk, allowing air from the nose to come in contact with fluid from the mouth. The host also shares a personal experience of witnessing a baby choke while breastfeeding, providing evidence that babies cannot safely breathe and swallow at the same time.
See more answers from the Internet
Despite clear evidence that newborns cannot breathe and swallow simultaneously, Crelin and Laitman continued to support this concept well into the 21st century, which resulted in the concept becoming imbedded in popular literature and the internet, with potentially significant negative clinical consequences.
The concept that newborns can breathe and swallow simultaneously has no merit – it is absolutely false. Any speech/language pathologist (SLP) or occupational therapist (OT) who treats newborn dysphagia, when watching a newborn suckle, specifically looks for a normal suck/swallow/breathe pattern, generally 1-3 sucks to every breath.
Despite clear evidence that newborns cannot breathe and swallow simultaneously, Crelin and Laitman continued to support this concept well into the 21st century, which resulted in the concept becoming imbedded in popular literature and the internet, with potentially significant negative clinical consequences.
Although the baby can no longer breathe and swallow at the same time, they can snore and learn to talk.
Therefore, except for a slight prolongation of inspiration and expiration during a swallow, infants, at least, do not appear to coordinate timing of breathing and swallowing at all.