Infants can drink and breathe at the same time because of the way their larynx and hyoid bone are situated. When a baby is born, the larynx, or voicebox, and the hyoid bone are situated higher up in the nasal cavity than in adults, which makes it possible for them to drink and breathe without aspirating, or choking on liquids or foods. As the baby gets older, both the larynx and hyoid bone drop to the adult level, eventually settling about two vertebrae down.

More facts about the larynx: