Why Does Your Baby Grunt at Night?
I thought she was insane when the midwife suggested that we keep our first child in the hall after we returned home.
Our baby was only a few weeks old. So tiny. So tiny So vulnerable.
I couldn’t let him go, much less sleep in the hall where he could be stolen!
Is she crazy?
A Symphony is a Collection of Sounds
Well, no. It turns out that our midwife had it right. Babies can be surprisingly loud. It’s terrifying. Not just when they’re wailing.
Even though they are tiny, babies can make some of the most bizarre noises at night. My midwife was right to say that.
What can you do? What if, like me, the thought of having to move your precious bundle of joy out of sight makes you tremble?
It’s important to understand what grunts are. According to TheBump a paediatrician from Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital explained, there are many reasons why our smallest specimens make such a lot of noise.
First, babies are born with very small airways, which means that the sound is amplified. Every noise that a baby makes is amplified.
Second, babies do not go into REM sleep (deep) until six months of age. While a newborn is supposed to sleep a lot, the sleep is very light. This is why she moves around more and is more alert than a baby who is at full rest.
What Can You Do?
According to Chris Minogue of Mothercraft, noises are not always cause for concern.
Noisey newborns are perfectly normal. The noises are due to the baby stretching and growing, and if it is your first child.
Chris says that it is difficult to determine what each sound means, but gurgling sounds are often caused by a baby’s small stomach or the fact that he/she has been fed a lot.
Sometimes the grunting is your baby passing gas or a poo. Chris says that newborn babies are very small in comparison to the rest of the body and have limited mobility. This means that the gas that is produced by breastfeeding and lying flat on their backs can become trapped.
Why Does My Baby Make Noises While Sleeping?
You may have noticed that your baby makes a lot of noise when they sleep. You might wonder, “Why does my baby make such loud noises?” From grunts and snorts to occasional gurgles or sighs. While these sounds may seem alarming, they are normal and part of your child’s development. Understanding the biology behind your baby’s nighttime music can help you relax and sleep better.
1. Babies only breathe through their nose
In the first few weeks, babies breathe exclusively through their noses. This is because their nasal passages are small and narrow, making them easily congested. Mucus from formula or breast milk can get into their nasal passages and cause noises such as snorting. This may sound like your child is congested but it’s usually just their developing respiratory systems at work. This congestion may occur even when your baby is not sick. It is normal in the early months.
2. The Respiratory System of Infants is still developing
The respiratory and digestive system of a newborn is still developing and growing. They’re still learning to regulate their breathing, as they have immature lungs and airways. During sleep, it’s not uncommon for babies to experience periods when their breathing increases or decreases. It is not a cause for alarm, even though it may sound strange or unsettling. You’ll notice that these changes will become less frequent as your baby grows.
3. Baby Gnats: Normal part of digestive development
Your baby may be making noises like “huffing”, grunting or straining while sleeping. This is because their digestive system is still adjusting. Babies are still learning how to relax their pelvic floor muscles or use their abdominal muscles in order to move gas and stool out of their system. When your baby has to go to the toilet, they might grunt or strain. This phenomenon, which is sometimes called “grunting-baby syndrome,” is perfectly normal. It should disappear as your child’s digestive system matures.
4. Frequent sleep transitions and active sleeping
The sleeping patterns of newborns are different from those of adults. Adults experience many stages of sleep. Babies, however, cycle between only two: REM (active sleep) or NREM (quiet sleeping). The cycles of newborns are shorter than those of adults, and they complete a cycle every 45-50 min. Your baby will go through a light sleep stage about once an hour. This makes them more likely to move, make noises or briefly wake up. When babies reach the age of 3-4 months, their sleep cycle becomes more like that of adults. They have four stages. It’s perfectly normal for your child to make different sounds as they transition.
5. Babies spend a lot of time in active REM sleep
Around 40-50% (or more) of a baby’s sleep is spent in REM, the lighter and more active sleep stage. It is important for brain development and memory, but it is also the stage where your baby is most likely to make noises. As your baby’s mind processes the day, you may hear whimpers or cries. It’s not necessarily a sign that your baby is unhappy.
6. Even when they sleep, babies are always hungry
It’s common for newborns to make rolling noises when they are sleeping. This is because their tummies are small and they need to eat often. Your baby may be smacking or sucking their lips, which could indicate that they are still hungry or dreaming about their next meal. These sounds are usually a sign your baby is about to wake up and will be looking for food. By being aware of these noises, you can stay on top of your baby’s requirements and stop them from waking up completely due to hunger.
Common Baby Sleep Sounds and Their Causes
There are many sounds that your baby may make when sleeping, including grunts and sighs. Here are some of the more common sounds, with their descriptions:
- Whistling or Rattling? Due to their narrow nasal passages and breathing sounds, newborns make a lot of whistling noises when they sleep, particularly during the night.
- Snoring: This noise is usually heard when babies are deep asleep and may be caused by nasal congestion or mucus accumulation.
- Gurgling: Babies do not always swallow their saliva. It can pool at the back of the mouth, causing gurgling noises as air passes over it.
- Hiccupping Due to their immature digestive system, newborns are more prone to experience hiccups. These are usually harmless and go away by themselves.
- Cry, Whimper, or Groan: These noises are usually part of the transition from light to deep sleep for your baby. These sounds are normal for your baby as he or she moves through his sleep cycle.
- Burping, rumbling or passing gas: The digestive system of your baby is always at work. You may hear your baby rumbling or burping during sleep. Their digestive process continues even when they are sleeping.
- Grunting This often occurs when your baby is still learning to use his muscles to digest food.
- Lip-Smacking: When you hear your baby making lip-smacking and rooting noises, this is a sign that he or she may be hungry.
Breathing sounds: What is normal for newborns?
As newborns have softer and narrower airways, they are more likely to breathe loudly. Newborns can breathe faster and more irregularly than adults. You may hear some common breathing patterns:
- Periodic breathing: When a baby breathes faster, it pauses for a few seconds before restarting. This is completely normal, and will usually disappear by the time your child is 6 months old.
- Transient Rapid Breathing Some newborns have rapid breathing because of fluid accumulation in the lungs following birth. This is a common occurrence and resolves usually within 48 hours.
- Laryngomalacia: Some babies have a larynx that is soft and floppy. This can cause noisy breathing. This usually resolves as your child grows.
When to Worry About Baby Sleep Sounds
Most baby sounds are harmless. However, some can indicate medical issues. These include:
- Rapid breathing of more than 40 breaths per minute
- A grunting rhythm, particularly with flared nostrils
- The sound of an extra-long exhale
- Whistling on each exhalation
This could be a sign of respiratory problems like RSV, bronchiolitis or respiratory distress syndrome. You should contact your doctor immediately if you hear any of these sounds or are concerned about the breathing of your child.
Managing Sleep Sounds for Better Sleep
Your baby will make noises while they sleep. If those noises keep you awake at night, you can try these strategies to get everyone better sleep:
- Use white noise: White noise machines can be used to drown out smaller sleep sounds, and provide a soothing background sound that will lull your baby into sleep.
- Share a Room: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, sharing a bedroom with your infant for at least six months is recommended. This can reduce the risk for SIDS and allows you to monitor your child more closely.
- Create a Routine. Create a routine that will help you and your baby relax before bedtime. A predictable routine will help you and your child sleep better.
When do baby sleep sounds stop?
As your baby grows, their digestive and respiratory systems will mature and many of these sounds will gradually diminish. Around 3 to 6 months, your baby’s sleep will be quieter and deeper.
Rest assured, until then, that most of the noises made by your baby while they sleep are normal and temporary. These sounds will lessen as your baby grows and you can both enjoy a peaceful sleep
