Five months ago, my son had his tonsils and adenoids removed, along with grommets, after years of recurring ear infections, glue ear, and sleep apnea.

This episode is a real-time update on where we are now.

I’m sharing what’s improved (his growth, the reduction in snoring) but also what’s quietly crept back in. Because the truth is, surgery hasn’t been a full solution.

I talk through our delayed post-op ENT review here in Cardiff, where I left feeling like my concerns weren’t properly addressed. His throat wasn’t examined, his ongoing (though reduced) apnea was brushed off, and I’ve since been chasing a follow-up plan, including trying to push for another sleep study.

This episode is really about what happens after surgery.

Because for us, it’s becoming clear that surgery creates an opportunity for change, but it’s not the end of the story.

I share where my head is at with next steps:

• myofunctional therapy (and why it feels daunting)
• questions around ALF expansion and timing
• the cost and practicality of all of this as a family
• and the frustration of trying to piece together care across disconnected specialties

If you want to go deeper, I’ve put together a simple airway health guide you can DM me the word CHECK on my Instagram @parentsofmouthbreathers

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Jessica Lee — an integrative ENT who trained in a conventional, surgery-focused medical system and realised that looking only at tonsils and adenoids wasn’t enough.

She now approaches airway health through a broader lens — considering breathing patterns, growth curves, inflammation, immune health, gut health and collaboration across disciplines.

We discuss sleep-disordered breathing as a spectrum, why children don’t go from “fine” to severe obstructive sleep apnea overnight, and the two questions that may predict airway concerns early — including why daytime mouth breathing matters.

We also explore:

• When tonsil and adenoid surgery is appropriate
• Why surgery isn’t a failure — but isn’t always the whole answer
• What a true multidisciplinary airway model looks like
• The gut–airway connection and environmental factors
• How parents can advocate without operating from fear

This episode isn’t about pushing surgery.

It’s about widening the lens, removing shame from the decision-making process, and helping parents feel more informed and less dismissed.

If you’ve ever been told “snoring is normal” but something didn’t sit right, this conversation will give you context.

I’m joined by Dr Aoife, a London/Kent-based dentist whose work sits at the intersection of tongue tie, early orthodontics, and airway health. We talk about early signs from birth, feeding mechanics (not just position), reflux and congestion, sleep disruption, why crooked teeth can be downstream of mouth breathing, and what’s often missing from the “expansion” conversation online.

We also get into the reality: surgery can help in some cases, but it’s rarely the whole answer, airway issues are usually multifactorial and need a multidisciplinary approach.

It's a practical conversation to help parents feel more informed and less dismissed.

After nearly two years on the waiting list and months of trying everything else, my son finally had a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and grommets.
This episode is my honest update. Not medical advice, not a tidy success story, just the reality of living through it as a parent.

If you’re stuck in that awful in-between place, trying to avoid surgery but running out of alternatives, this one is for you.

I share:

• What led us to surgery after years of holistic and private treatments

• What the surgery day and recovery were actually like (including a scary post-op complication)

• The changes we’ve seen since hearing, sleep, infections, behaviour

• What surgery helped with and what it didn’t

• Why I now see surgery as one piece of a much bigger, multidisciplinary puzzle

We talk openly about navigating the NHS, the confusion of conflicting advice, the cost of private care, and the emotional toll of constantly second-guessing yourself as a parent.

I didn’t want surgery to be the answer, and I still don’t think it is the answer on its own. But it was part of our answer.

If you’re questioning your next step, feeling alone in the decision, or wondering whether surgery is “worth it,” I hope this episode helps you feel less isolated and a little more informed.

💬 If you’re walking a similar path, you’re always welcome to message me and share your experience.

In this episode of Parents of Mouth Breathers, I’m joined by Dr David McIntosh, an Australian ENT (ear, nose & throat) surgeon and author of Snored to Death and Your Child’s Sleep Disorder Breathing.
Dr McIntosh is internationally recognised for his work in paediatric airway health and sleep-disordered breathing.

We dig into:

• Why snoring and mouth breathing are never normal in children

• The shocking truth that just six months of poor sleep can alter brain development

• Why the phrase “they’ll grow out of it” is outdated and harmful

• How “mild” sleep apnoea can still cause lasting brain and behavioural changes

• The UK study of 12,000 children that changed how we understand airway health

I’m joined by Dr Suraj Vatish, dental surgeon and lead at the Tongue Tie & Breathing Centre (Happy Kids, Chelsea). We unpack what a tongue tie really is, why “can they stick it out?” misses the point, how ties affect feeding, sleep, speech and breathing, and why aftercare + multidisciplinary support matter just as much as the release itself.

What we cover

• The biggest myths (incl. the “stick it out” test)

• Functional definition: elevation > protrusion

• Sleep/breath/eat: the three pillars tied to tongue function

• Lip ties and what Dr Suraj is observing clinically

• Laser vs scissors — safety, visibility, healing

• Aftercare: exercises, bodywork, OMT, suturing in older kids

• Do all ties need treatment? Anterior vs posterior

• Is tongue tie a “fad”? History & context

• Building a team: OMT, SLT, osteopathy, paediatrics, ENT, orthodontics

Guest
Dr Suraj Vatish — @svatishdds (Instagram)
Happy Kids Dental — Tongue Tie & Breathing Centre (Chelsea, London)

I’ve tried the scripts. The co-regulation. The whispered apologies. I’ve kneeled down at eye level and told myself, “this is what gentle parenting looks like.” But still—nothing seemed to work.

In this episode, I’m sharing something I posted recently that’s brought me a weird sense of relief: maybe it’s not that I need to parent better. Maybe my child just needs to breathe and sleep better.

Because when your child is chronically congested, mouth breathing, waking constantly, or living in fight-or-flight—none of the parenting techniques stick. Their body can’t receive it.

This one’s for the parents blaming themselves. For the ones over-analysing every reaction, wondering what they’re doing wrong.

You’re not failing. You’re just working with a nervous system that needs more support.

Let this episode take some weight off.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:13 The Impact of Sleep and Breathing on Parenting

00:58 Personal Experiences and Realisations

01:56 Challenges of Modern Parenting Techniques

03:04 The Importance of Addressing Sleep Disorders

05:44 Recognising Symptoms and Seeking Help

09:10 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

When Dr Kathleen Schuster’s daughter started snoring, having nightmares, and acting “not like herself,” Kathleen didn’t just see a phase — she saw red flags.

In this powerful conversation, Kathleen shares how she navigated swollen tonsils, chronic infections, and mounting pressure for surgery — and what actually helped her daughter breathe, sleep, and grow better without going under the knife.

We talk about:

• Why mouth breathing wrecks the body

• How growth, behaviour, and breathing are all connected

• What to try before surgery

• The power of early intervention, tongue exercises, and myofunctional therapy

• And why most parents are still being left in the dark

This one’s for any parent who's been dismissed, gaslit, or told their child will “just grow out of it.” There’s another way — and you deserve to know about it.

Resources mentioned:

• Dr Kathleen Schuster on Insta

• Tongue Tied – Dr Richard Baxter

• Breathe – James Nestor

• Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic – Sandra Kahn & Paul R. Ehrlich

• Myofunctional therapy app: MyoFitPro

• Myo Munchee

Full show notes on YouTube.

In this episode, I offer a real-world guide for parents preparing for their child’s ENT appointment. We talk through what to expect, what to bring, and what not to take lying down. Because while ENTs can be part of the solution, they’re not the whole story—especially when it comes to airway health, sleep disordered breathing, and myofunctional issues.

I share my own experience of walking into that appointment full of hope and walking out with frustration, realising that if I wanted answers, I’d have to ask the right questions—and know what to look for outside the ENT room too.

What You’ll Learn:

• What ENTs do (and don’t) look for

• How to prep with videos, symptom tracking and the right language

• Why sleep studies matter—and how to push for one

• What they won't tell you about tongue tie, glue ear, and airway health

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the podcast
00:11 – Why ENT matters—but isn’t the full picture
01:46 – My first ENT appointment: expectations vs. reality
03:27 – What to bring: videos, notes, questions, evidence
04:55 – The three to five questions that really matter
08:13 – Sleep apnea in kids: obstructive vs central
11:15 – Final thoughts and what ENT won’t tell you

Whether your child is being referred for snoring, recurrent infections or suspected glue ear, this episode will leave you clearer, stronger, and ready to advocate.

🎧 Listen now—and share with a friend who’s feeling lost in the system.
📲 If this episode gave you language or clarity, share it on Instagram and tag me @parentsofmouthbreathers – it helps more parents find their voice.

In this episode of Parents of Mouth Breathers, I’m laying it all out, the overlooked reality of paediatric sleep apnoea, and what it’s really like trying to get your child’s breathing issues taken seriously.

Sleep apnoea in children isn’t rare. It isn’t harmless. And it certainly isn’t something they’ll just "grow out of." It’s oxygen desaturation, chronic sleep disruption, behavioural issues, missed developmental milestones, and most terrifyingly, it’s often ignored.

I share my story of noticing the signs in my eldest at two and a half: the snoring, the mouth breathing, the ragey mornings and puffy eyes. The way he never woke up rested. And how, despite showing GPs videos and flagging every red flag, I was met with smirks, shrugs, and the age-old line: “He’s fine.”

But he wasn’t fine.

From cranial osteopathy and dairy elimination to airway dentists and ENT battles, I talk about the messy, exhausting journey of fighting for a diagnosis, and what finally led to a sleep study and a confirmation of sleep apnoea. I also break down why a multi-disciplinary approach matters, and what parents need to know before blindly opting for surgery.

If your child snores, struggles to breathe at night, or wakes up exhausted and cranky, please listen. You are not overreacting. You are not alone. You are your child’s best advocate.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Paediatric Sleep Apnoea
01:11 – Recognising the Signs and Symptoms
02:19 – Seeking Medical Help and Facing Challenges
03:45 – Exploring Treatment Options
08:29 – The Importance of Advocacy and Awareness
13:25 – Conclusion and Call to Action

Referenced in this episode:
– Breathe by James Nestor
– Jaws by Sandra Kahn and Paul Ehrlich

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts
📲 Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear iT