Herbie Murray
Newborns make a variety of sounds while sleeping, including moaning, grunting, snoring, whimpering, sighing, and gurgling. While these noises may be surprising and alarming for new parents, they are typically not a cause for concern. Newborns breathe mostly through their noses, and their tiny nasal passages can easily become congested, leading to audible breathing. Additionally, newborns are still developing their digestive and respiratory systems, resulting in noises related to gas, digestion, and irregular breathing patterns. These sleep sounds usually lessen by 4 to 6 months of age as the baby's development improves and sleep cycles mature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep noises | Moaning, grunting, snoring, whimpering, sighing, gurgling, snorting, lip smacking, crying out, shrieking |
| Reasons | Self-soothing, light sleep cycle, hunger, passing gas, having a bowel movement, immature digestive system, short sleep cycles, REM sleep, congested nasal passages, immature respiratory system, irregular breathing, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, breathing emergency |
| When to be concerned | Signs of illness or discomfort, such as rapid or laboured breathing, lethargy, fever, or crying |
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Self-soothing
Moaning, grunting, and other sleep noises are common in newborns and are usually not a cause for concern. In fact, these noises are often a source of comfort for parents, signalling that their baby is about to fall asleep. While newborns typically cannot self-soothe, there are several strategies that parents and caregivers can use to help their baby sleep well and develop self-soothing capabilities as they get older.
To help your baby develop self-soothing capabilities, you can establish a sleep routine and healthy sleep habits from birth. This may include putting your baby to bed at the same time each night in a quiet, dark room, establishing a bedtime routine such as a bath or bedtime story, and ensuring your baby does not nap for more than 3 hours during the day. Being warm and affectionate at bedtime will also help your baby feel safe.
It is important to remember that newborns have irregular sleep patterns and need to eat frequently to gain weight, so encouraging them to self-soothe can be harmful. Newborns depend heavily on their caregivers to help settle them to sleep, and settling your newborn to sleep will not have any long-term consequences or create bad habits.
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Digestive system development
The digestive system of a newborn baby is still developing, and this can cause rumbling or gurgling sounds during sleep. These sounds are usually a sign that the baby is passing gas, having a bowel movement, or digesting their last meal. Lip-smacking or sucking sounds are also common at night, and these often indicate hunger.
Newborns have tiny nasal passages that tend to get congested easily. Their lungs are still learning to regulate breathing, and their brains are figuring out how to communicate with other body systems. This can lead to irregular breathing patterns, with short periods of accelerated, decelerated, or even paused breathing.
In addition to regulating their breathing, newborns are also learning to manage gas and excretion. They are adjusting to digesting new foods and moving air and nutrients through their digestive systems, which can be an uncomfortable process. It may take a few months for them to relax the muscles in their pelvic floor, reducing the grunting noises that often accompany this stage.
Newborns also need time to regulate their hunger. They may feel hungry at night, triggering extra movement and strange noises. This can be particularly noticeable if the baby falls asleep before finishing their evening feed, as they may then feel uncomfortable due to an empty stomach. Establishing a consistent circadian rhythm takes time, and hunger is often a cause of grunting in newborns.
Feeding newborns during the night can help prevent hunger-related grunting and squirming. Typically, newborns feed between eight and twelve times in a 24-hour period, so night feedings are usually necessary. Ensuring the baby's comfort is also essential for promoting better sleep. This includes factors such as room temperature, a firm mattress, and a dim and quiet environment.
While most sleep noises are harmless, there are some exceptions. Snoring, for instance, is a red flag unless caused by a known respiratory issue or allergy. Rapid or laboured breathing, along with moaning or grunting at the end of a breath, could indicate respiratory distress or other health concerns. In such cases, it is crucial to seek immediate medical advice.
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Nasal congestion
Newborns' lungs are still developing, and they are learning to regulate their breathing, so some noise is to be expected. Their sleep cycles are also much shorter than adults, so they are constantly transitioning between sleep and wakefulness. This, combined with their higher percentage of REM sleep, a lighter sleep state associated with dreaming, means that newborns are often noisier sleepers than adults.
While most sleep noises are harmless, there are some that may indicate a problem. If your newborn is moaning or groaning and wakes up crying, they may need something from you. If they are struggling to breathe, look blue, or show other signs of illness, seek medical advice. Other warning signs include rapid breathing, flared nostrils, or pulling muscles around the neck.
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REM sleep
Newborns make noises in their sleep due to their unique sleep cycles, which are very different from those of adults. Newborns sleep for about 20 hours a day, but only for 2–3 hours at a time. Their sleep cycles are shorter, lasting around 60 minutes, and they experience much more REM sleep than adults.
The noises newborns make during sleep can include grunting, moaning, gurgling, snoring, whimpering, sighing, and snorting. These sounds are usually normal and not a cause for concern. They are often related to the baby's digestive system, which is still maturing, or to their short sleep cycles and frequent transitions between sleep stages.
While most baby sleep noises are harmless, there are some noises that may indicate a problem. Snoring, for example, could be a sign of a respiratory virus or allergies, and rapid or laboured breathing could suggest respiratory distress. If you have any concerns about your baby's sleep noises or overall well-being, it is always best to consult a healthcare professional.
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Sleep cycles
Babies' sleep noises are usually a result of their developing respiratory and digestive systems. Newborns tend to breathe through their noses, and their tiny nasal passages can easily become congested. This can make breathing audible and result in snoring, which is one of the most common sleep sounds in newborns. Other typical sleep sounds include grunting, moaning, gurgling, snorting, whimpering, sighing, and snoring. These noises are generally harmless and expected, but it is important to monitor your baby's breathing and overall well-being. If you have any concerns, always consult a medical professional.
The good news is that these sleep noises usually lessen as your baby matures. By the time your baby is between 3 and 6 months old, they will spend more time in deep sleep and experience fewer sleep-wake disruptions. Their overall sleep cycles will lengthen, and the newborn growing pains will resolve. However, every baby is different, and the exact time they stop making sleep sounds depends on various factors.
In addition to the physical development of their respiratory and digestive systems, babies are also learning to regulate their sleep and hunger patterns. It takes time for their circadian rhythm to regulate, and they may experience hunger at night, which can trigger extra movement and noises. Ensuring your baby is comfortable, well-fed, and in a calm environment can help promote better sleep.
While most baby sleep noises are normal and expected, there are a few instances where you should seek medical advice. If your baby is older and teething, moaning or groaning could indicate discomfort. Additionally, rapid or laboured breathing could be a sign of respiratory distress or illness. In such cases, it is always best to consult a doctor or seek emergency care if necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns make a variety of noises in their sleep, including moaning, due to their developing lungs and stomachs, which can cause breathing and digestive issues. They also have short sleep cycles, so they are constantly transitioning between sleep and wakefulness.
Yes, newborn sleep noises are normal and are rarely a cause for concern. However, snoring is one type of noise that may indicate a problem, and parents should seek medical advice if they notice this.
Newborn sleep noises usually lessen when babies are between 3 and 6 months old, as their sleep cycles lengthen and they spend more time in deep sleep. Most sleep noises should stop entirely by the end of the first year.
While newborn sleep noises are usually harmless, parents should always consult a doctor or medical professional if they have any concerns. It is recommended to seek emergency help if a baby is showing signs of respiratory distress, such as rapid or laboured breathing.
Newborns often make repetitive noises, such as "shushing" or "mooing", to self-soothe and create calming chest vibrations. This is a natural and important life skill that will help them become more independent as they get older.
