Why Is My Older Child Still Drooling or Dribbling? A Parent’s Guide Drooling is completely normal in babies and young toddlers. But what if your child is four, five or older and still regularly has saliva on their chin, damp clothes or a wet pillow? Parents may wonder: “Are they producing too much saliva?” “Could their adenoids or tonsils be causing it?” “Is this something they should have grown out of?” Persistent drooling—also called dribbling or sialorrhoea —does not have one single cause. Interestingly, the problem is often not that a child produces an excessive amount of saliva . Instead, the child may be less aware of saliva collecting at the front of the mouth, may swallow less frequently, keep their mouth open because their nose is blocked, or have difficulty coordinating the movements involved in saliva control. A child-specific NHS guide published in January 2026 explains that drooling can be influenced by open-mouth posture, concentration, tiredness, nasal blo...
When Are Big Tonsils a Problem? A Parent's Guide to Enlarged Tonsils in Children Many parents are told during a routine GP visit, "Your child has very large tonsils." The next question is almost always: "Do they need removing?" The answer is not always. Some children have naturally large tonsils that never cause any problems. Others develop breathing difficulties, disturbed sleep, repeated infections or poor school performance because their enlarged tonsils partially block the airway. Understanding the difference helps parents make informed decisions. As a Consultant ENT Surgeon seeing children across London, East London, Brentwood and Essex , one of the commonest questions I hear is: "How do I know whether my child's tonsils are normal or actually causing problems?" This guide explains exactly what parents should look for. What Are Tonsils? Tonsils are part of the body's immune system. They sit on either side of...