Can babies breathe and swallow at the same time?

Can babies breathe and swallow at the same time?

I heard that babies can breathe and swallow at the same time and that is how they don’t choke. Is this true?

By: theonewiththequestions_13

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6 Answers & Suggestion to “Can babies breathe and swallow at the same time?”

1. Megan M Says:
   December 15th, 2008 at 5:47 pm

   I have never researched it, but I would say no. People can not breath and swallow at the same time because of the epiglottis, which is made of mostly cartilage it covers the glottis during swallowing to prevent food going into the larynx. It works the same in babies they breath between swallowing.
   Megan

2. mystic_eye_cda Says:
   December 18th, 2008 at 8:05 am

   I’ve heard the same thing, that the placement of the voicebox prevent choking and also prevents speaking. But honestly I have tried to find but have never found any reputable source for anything even close to that.

3. phroggtrapp Says:
   December 20th, 2008 at 11:32 pm

   I don’t believe its physiologically possible to breathe and swallow simultaneously (without choking). However, if you think about how you breathe when you are taking a long drink, you alternate nose breathing with swallowing. Babies probably do the same.

   Now, if you are meaning en utero, babies do ‘practice’ breathing, and end up swallowing or ‘inhaling’ amniotic fluid.

4. Angel Eyes Says:
   December 23rd, 2008 at 6:10 am

   Uh don’t you breathe and swallow at the same time???

   Helloooooo

5. the wise one Says:
   December 25th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

   The medical answer is a big yes, babies are born nasal breathers(through the nose)
   the reason for this is quite simple and you will realise im right once i mention breast feeding, obviously if they stopped breathing when breast feeding they would die quite quickly.
   babies like us can breathe and swallow,
   you have a flap called the epi glotis that opens and shuts when eating, to prevent any foreign bodies getting into your lungs, the only time this safety device fails is when you are unconcious ,..you lose the gag reflex,, this is why people like me will stick an et tube into your trachea (windpipe during events such as a cardiac arrest,, to prevent any vomit ect getting into the lungs…
   your
   paramedic sas

6. *~gRuMpY~* Says:
   December 28th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

   no….. they dnt breathe and eat at the same time… play close attention to a baby while its sucking a bottle… it will suk snd suk then it will stop,,, and continue sucking after catching its breathe