If you ever watch your baby sleep, you may hear your baby grunting in sleep, from simple ones such as grunts and giggles, snorts, and groans to crying when the baby is asleep. It may be shocking (or unsettling) for first-time parents to hear these sounds, but most of them are perfectly natural and are a sign of your baby’s development.
Is It Normal for Newborns to Grunt and Squirm While Sleeping?
Yes, there is nothing bad in it. It is quite common for babies to grunt during their sleeping time. Thus, it is quite natural to observe various sounds being emitted from a newborn and infants during their sleep, such as grunting, whimperin,g and even snoring. It is rather important to identify these sounds as part of the normal sleep pattern and breathing process of the baby.
Grunting can sometimes be related to digestive system changes or swallowed air, and it is not dangerous unless your baby is preterm or has other health issues. In most instances, as long as your baby is eating well, gaining weight and does not appear to be uncomfortable, the grunting is simply because of breathing patterns that are typical in this developmental stage. As we shall see in a later part of this article, many things can cause such sounds in babies, and whether or not one should worry or not.
Why is My Baby Making Sounds While Sleeping?
It might be possible to have several reasons why your baby grunts while sleeping. These sounds can be common and perfectly natural for a child of that age and do not require medical attention. Here are some common explanations:
- Passing Stool
Although it may sound unlikely, it should be noted that grunting is one of the signs that the baby is attempting to defecate. This is quite normal, especially if the child is new to this world, and may be observed in the first few months of the baby's life. This is because they are still children with an immature system, which in some cases, might find it difficult to pass stools.
- Still Developing Muscles and Nervous System
Your baby’s muscles and nervous system are still developing throughout their body. As these systems are not well developed during the initial months of a baby’s life, it is normal for the baby to grunt or make any other sounds when sleeping. These sounds may be caused by the gradual development of the mechanism to coordinate their movements and other functions, and hence they were expected to reduce as the baby grows and develops more coordination.
- Congested Nasal Passages
It is important to know that babies have more constricted airways than adults, which makes them likely to experience congestion. Even if they have narrow or slightly congested airways where there is a buildup of mucus, a child may grunt to breathe or dislodge the mucus. This is especially so in cold seasons or areas that experience low humidity, thus causing the baby to sound congested while sleeping.
- Sleep Transitions
Two main types of sleep are well observed in newborns, and these are REM and NREM sleep, where. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, and NREM is Non-Rapid Eye Movement sleep. They move between these stages quite often and sometimes open their eyes at the change of each state. All these changes are associated with the movement of the babies from one sleep stage to another, or if they are awake, they may grumble, move, or make other noises. Such noises may be confused with waking or crying, but they are actually a regular part of a child's sleep pattern. This is because if you intervene too soon, they lose the opportunity to learn how to sleep on their own.
- Acid Reflux
Dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux are often encountered in younger babies. This situation takes place when the ring-like muscle between the stomach and the esophagus doesn't close adequately to prevent this backward leakage of stomach acid. This may lead to discomfort, gurgling, grunting sounds, and, at times, spitting up. This is because the symptoms are usually associated with the development of the baby's digestive system. In any case, if you think your baby is suffering from reflux, it is advisable to consult your pediatrician for advice on how to cope with the problem.
Each of these reasons is usually not long-lasting, and as the baby grows older, they will not grunt as often as before. Nevertheless, it will be quite useful to pay attention to their general health and well-being and consult a healthcare provider if you notice any problematic sleeping patterns.
Baby Grunting and Other Typical Newborn Sleep Sounds
Some of the newborns are more noisy when they sleep, and this may include making several sounds that may cause alarm to the parents. Nevertheless, most of these noises are harmless and knowing why they occur can be reassuring. Below is the list of possible noises a baby makes while sleeping and the possible meanings behind:
- Whistling & Rattling
For instance, if your baby has a regular, gentle melody when breathing, then it is normal because infants possess small air passages in the nasal passages. Thus, even a small amount of mucus or dried milk can create a whistling or rattling noise in the airflow with each breath in and out. These sounds are usually present until the child grows older and their nasal passages are well developed.
- Snorting
Like grunting, snorting is another sound that is produced by newborns mostly as a result of slight blockage in the nasal passage. Since babies rely on their nostrils to breathe, anything that may clog their nasal passage will cause them to snort while they are asleep. Happily, most of these sounds disappear towards the end of the first half of the first year of your baby’s life.
- Gurgling
Newborns do not swallow all their saliva at once, and since most of the time they spend lying down, then saliva may accumulate at the back of a baby’s throat. When air is flowing through a pipe, it gurgles. This is quite usual and gradually fades when the child starts to have greater control over the swallowing reflex.
- Hiccupping
Hiccups in newborns are very normal; they can happen when the baby is awake as well as when they are asleep. It is commonly experienced because babies usually swallow large amounts of air when sucking on the bottle leading to contraction of the diaphragm. It might seem alarming, though, hiccups are not a problem to the baby as you will realize they affect adults most.
- Whimpering, Crying & Groaning
This is not a sign of an uncomfortable baby; it is normal for babies to emit some feeble cry, whimpering or low moaning while asleep. These sounds are usually produced as the child moves. Newborns spend more time in active sleep, and thus, their sleep can be filled with their movements and noises. If your baby is not fully awake and seems upset, then such sounds can be regarded as normal at a certain age.
- Rumbling, Burping & Passing Gas
A newborn is an active eater and therefore the digestive system of a baby is almost always in use even when the child is still asleep. They begin to rumble, guttural noises, or even the passing of wind noises may be heard from the child. These sounds are quite normal and are usually associated with digestion, which means that the baby is digesting their last meal.
- Baby Grunting
Whistling is one of the primary noises you might hear when your baby is asleep, and it is associated with the development of the baby's digestive system. This may be as a result of newborns only learning how to use their abdominal muscles to expel stool and gas within the digestive system, making them grunt as they push. But in most such circumstances, it is all right. However, where grunting continues for a long time along with signs of discomfort and breathing problems, then medical attention should be sought.
- Lip-Smacking & Rooting Noises
Lip smacking or sucking while the baby is asleep is also a sign that the baby is dreaming of the next meal. Newborns’ reflexes include sucking, and sometimes these sounds are associated with rooting – turning of the head in the direction of the nipple. If your baby is making these sounds, be prepared – they may wake up soon to feed. For instance, it is hard to understand why a baby would need to wake up in the middle of the night for food.
How to Help Noisy Babies Sleep Better
If your baby is a noisy sleeper, or simply a happy baby with a stuffy nose, gas, or simply a baby who is just transitioning from one sleep cycle to the other, there is a way to make them comfortable. Here are some ideas that will help you make the sleeping environment more comfortable for your child:
- Use a humidifier or an air purifier
Babies can be squeaky, snoring, or growling in their sleep due to congestion. They should use a cool-mist humidifier or a vaporizer to ensure that their nasal passages are moist by increasing the amount of moisture in the environment. Also, an air purifier can filter dust and allergens as well as strong smells that may trigger sneezing or congestion.
- Try saline drops and gentle suction
If your baby's breathing seems loud because of the mucus, you should then use saline drops because they help soften the dried mucus. Then, gently suction it out with a bulb syringe or similar nasal aspirator. This can greatly affect their capacity to breathe properly while sleeping during the night.
- Create a soothing and safe sleep environment
A peaceful sleep environment can help babies fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Consider these tips:
- Use blackout curtains or an eye shade– Once your baby is over the day/night ambulatory phase, which is at around two months, you should ensure you block out any light during daytime. Light-blocking curtains or blinds will ensure that outside light does not disturb them.
- Maintain room temperature– The recommended temperature range for a room that will encourage safe and comfortable sleep is between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. The baby should be dressed according to the weather since overheating can interfere with sleep and even cause SIDS.
- White noise machine– Invest in the Momcozy Baby Sound Machine – it is portable, has a timer, and many soothing sounds for your baby. It gives background noise over such household noises. It will allow you to change settings with a remote control through an application without waking up the baby.
- Dress your baby for comfort– What your baby wears to bed can also affect how well they will sleep. A good example of comfortable and light sleepwear is Momcozy Baby Pajamas, which enables the baby to sleep comfortably without getting a stuffy and hot feel at night.
- Keep Your Baby Hydrated
Giving your baby enough breast milk, formula, or if they are over 6 months, water during the day can help them sleep better. Hydration:
- Aids in breaking up mucus and establishes breathing ease, especially during the night for babies with breathing difficulties.
- This ensures that the cat stays well-fed to avoid waking up due to hunger.
- This maintains the heat of the body to ensure that at night, you do not feel cold.
When Do Babies Stop Making Noises in Sleep?
Most babies will stop the noise at 6-12 months. However, it is different for every child, depending on their development, sleep practices, and health.
When to Worry and See a Doctor About Baby Grunting and Other Sleep Sounds
It is important to note that most of the noises that babies make while sleeping, such as grunting, gurgling or snorting, are harmless. But sometimes, grunting loudly or constantly may point to a condition that needs to be treated by a doctor. Here are some scenarios:
- Labored Breathing
- Flaring nostrils while breathing.
- Chest crunches (when one grabs the skin between the ribs or at the chin level and pulls it towards the other hand)
- Persistent fast breathing (more than 60 breaths per minute)
- Possible symptoms include audible wheezing or struggling to breathe.
Possible Concern: Respiratory distress may be related to infections, early lung maturity, or other issues.
- Persistent Grunting With Every Breath
- If your baby grunts continuously, even when awake.
- However, in case the grunting is associated with breathing problems or discomfort in the form of pain, then it could be a sign that you need to seek medical attention.
Possible Concern: Respiratory infections, fluid in the lungs, or other breathing-related issues.
- Bluish Skin or Pale Complexion
- When the oxygen level is low, the skin may take on a bluish or purplish hue, especially around the lips, face, and fingers (cyanosis).
- Skin turning white or becoming ashen.
Possible Concern: It could be a lack of oxygen, which translates to a medical emergency.
- Poor Feeding or Weight Gain
- Difficulty latching or sucking
- Vomiting during feedings and showing symptoms of fatigue during feedings
- Not gaining weight as expected
A possible concern with this observation is that the bird might be suffering from a digestive complication or respiratory illness, which hampers feeding.
- Frequent Vomiting or Reflux Symptoms
- Mild, constant grunting, too much spitting up or vomiting
- Various forms of abdominal arching after feedings
- Some of the uncomfortable signs that may be observed after eating include crying or fidgeting.
Potential Issue: GERD that may need intervention or medication.
Conclusion
Sleep disturbances are perfectly normal in infancy, and babies typically cease grunting, snorting, or any loud noises they might produce during the first year. Babies' sleep cycles become more organized and regular, their breathing becomes more stable, and digestion is more efficient, and therefore, noises in the night subside. Most of these sounds are normal, but it's crucial to look out for any indication of stress or discomfort, including struggling to breathe, grunting continuously, or turning blue.
