Why does my baby grunt so much? Grunting baby syndrome explained

• Their face may go red or even purple

Understanding Why Your Newborn is Grunting and Squirming While Sleeping

It is not unusual to have a newborn grunting and squirming while sleeping. Many new mothers go through this phase of the child’s development process, and there are some tactics you can use to calm the baby down.

There is a significant lack of general information on handling a newborn baby. Still, places such as the Worldwide Pediatrics Group offer counseling for new mothers who need support and help when welcoming a newborn. General Pediatric Care in Plantation and Doral, Florida , is at the disposal of new parents who are still learning how to handle the needs of a recently born child and how to adjust their daily routines to this change. This process is sometimes quite challenging for new parents, so any kind of additional help and guidance is beneficial.

Your baby grunting in their sleep is not the biggest concern you might face as a parent, so first try not to stress so much about it because, in most cases, it does not present anything serious. Losing sleep because you just had a baby is an integral part of being a new parent, so when your baby is squirming at night, you will be able to monitor the occurrence and react promptly in case of additional complications.

Why Is My Newborn Grunting and Squirming While Sleeping?

To stop panicking and worrying about this problem, we must explain the potential reasons your newborn might be grunting in their sleep.

The simple, most common reason for this is that your newborn is learning how to defecate, i.e., poop. When babies are born, they learn how to navigate their own bodies, and even though our bodies are used to emptying our bowels, it occurs automatically; for babies, this is a learning process, and they need time and practice.

The term often used in these cases is infant dyschezia, which means babies are having issues with pooping. Although it might sound quite scary for a new parent to hear their newborn grunting and squirming in their sleep, it is not that problematic. The child is simply trying to understand which muscles move which body part in this process, while adults relax their pelvic floor and use the muscles in the stomach quite naturally when emptying their bowels.

This is quite complicated for infants, so while figuring out the process, the baby will be grunting in their sleep. Grunting usually includes the usage of the muscles of the diaphragm, affecting the voice box directly, so you might hear some noises which will not sound normal. Sometimes newborns’ grunting in their sleep can be accompanied by cries and even turning red or purple in their faces.

If you have noticed that the child’s poop is normal, then you should not worry about it at all. Nonetheless, visit your chosen pediatrician and discuss this topic with them in more detail, just to be on the safe side of things.

Other reasons for newborn grunting and squirming can include:

• Constipation (if the frequency of defecation is low, the belly is quite hard, etc.)
• Irregular breathing
• Chest congestion
• Nasal congestion
• Gastroesophageal reflux, or GER
• Illnesses such as pneumonia, heart failure, and meningitis (quite rare)
• REM sleeping phase where the baby becomes more active

What Are the Solutions for A Baby Squirming at Night?

To offer potential solutions, we need to know why your baby grunts in their sleep. Below we have brought some solutions for each of the above-mentioned potential causes so you can have some sort of a guideline before speaking to a specialist.

• Constipation: If you consider that your baby is suffering from constipation, call your chosen doctor. The solution might be to change the formula you give to your child or your diet in case you are still breastfeeding. Also, you can move their legs and give them stomach massages or baths to loosen the muscles. Avoid giving the child laxatives unless your doctor says so.

• Irregular breathing: This might sound a bit scary, but in most cases, your child is learning how to breathe and how to use their respiratory organs. In case you notice really quick and irregular breathing, call your doctor because it is essential to share this with them as well, however insignificant someone might find it.

• Chest and nasal congestion: When it comes to nasal congestion, sometimes the simplest solution will help your baby overcome this issue. Very often, mucus is trapped inside the airways, so you can either use a suction bulb or a few drops of a saline solution to fix the matter. If you notice that they are having chest congestion, please consult your doctor.
• GER: It is a little-known fact that almost 85% of babies have acid reflux. Put in simple terms, this means that the food the child consumes is headed in the opposite direction from where it should be going. This can also cause your newborn to grunt and squirm. If additional symptoms occur, and the baby struggles with this, call your chosen doctor because they might suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease, which needs medical assistance.

When to Visit a Doctor?

As mentioned a few times before, in most cases, your newborn grunting and squirming while sleeping does not indicate anything serious. This said, if you start noticing any of the below-mentioned symptoms, it means that you need to call your doctor immediately:

• The baby appears to be in pain or distress
• They are grunting with every breath
• Their lips are blue
• They have a fever
• They are experiencing weight loss
• They are tired almost constantly

Do not feel ashamed to call your chosen doctor as often as possible if this will help you put your mind at ease and reduce stress. The specialist you chose is there to help you deal exactly with issues like these, so consult them as much as needed.

Does the Grunting Stop?

Many mothers report that the grunting and squirming stop after a few weeks. It is a case-by-case situation, and it is different for every child. The grunting can start right after birth or a month later, but if this phase lasts longer than a few weeks, contact your doctor and ask for guidance and support.

We Are Here for You and Your Child!

Being a new mother is stressful on its own, and when your baby is showing signs of additional distress and issues, the worry just grows. Our clinic and experts are here to help new parents overcome potential challenges in the first few months of having a baby. Numerous patients have visited our center and asked for support and help. If you need us for anything, just pick up the phone, and we will be there. You are not alone in this; we are here every step of the way. Contact us today!

Why does my baby grunt so much? Grunting baby syndrome explained

This article has been medically reviewed by Lesley Gilchrist, BSc (Hons) Midwifery Studies, MSc Clinical Research Methods, and the CEO and founder of ‘My Expert Midwife’ Lesley has been a midwife since 2003, working in some of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe.

Throughout your baby’s development you’ll hear them make lots of unusual sounds and noises when they’re awake. Baby grunting in sleep is also common, as well as newborn grunting and squirming while sleeping. But one you may notice, which can sometimes cause concern, is your baby grunting like a little farm animal.

This is known as grunting baby syndrome and is completely normal, but if your baby’s grunting tends to persist, it could also indicate that there’s a problem. We spoke to Lesley Gilchrist, registered midwife and co-founder of My Expert Midwife, to find out.

What is grunting baby syndrome?

Grunting baby syndrome occurs when your infant is going (or trying) to have a poo.

Usually when we go for a poo we flex our stomach muscles while relaxing our pelvic floor, which applies pressure to help move stool through the gut. However, newborns don’t have strong enough stomach muscles to do this, so they use their diaphragm muscles to move their bowel instead. As your baby exercises the diaphragm it puts pressure on their voice box, which results in grunting.

Why is my baby grunting in sleep?

“Your baby may also make normal grunting noises during their sleep if they are passing gas or if they are constipated,” says Lesley. “They may also grunt after the very occasional breath, when they are dreaming, perhaps as an expression of discomfort or content; when they are stretching or sometimes, as they are falling asleep. Rarely, grunting in a baby may be due to a problem. However, issues such as reflux, infection, certain heart conditions and respiratory distress can cause your baby to grunt.”

Asian baby newborn crying from diarrhea colic symptoms

What are the symptoms of grunting baby syndrome?

If your newborn has grunting baby syndrome they may experience the following:

• Grunting, crying or straining while trying to do a poo

• Their face may go red or even purple

• They may seem uncomfortable for a few minutes before having bowel movement

These symptoms can last for five to 10 minutes before your little one finally feels comfortable again.

Is grunting baby syndrome serious?

Grunting baby syndrome can cause your newborn some discomfort while they’re learning to coordinate these two new muscle groups, however it’s something we’ve all had to learn how to do.

When does baby grunting stop?

While you may find it hard to watch your little one go through this discomforting experience they will begin to stop grunting once they’ve learnt how to relax these two muscles, which is usually within a few months, so don’t panic.

How do you fix grunting baby syndrome?

“Most babies stop grunting when they are about three to four months old, or when their tummy muscles are strong enough to help with bowel movements,” says Lesley. “Until then, they tend to engage their diaphragm when they strain, an action which puts pressure on their glottis (voicebox).”

However, if you’re concerned that your baby isn’t experiencing symptoms of grunting baby syndrome and that it may be something else, contact your GP.

For parents who would be interested in alternative methods, such as understanding and communicating your baby’s elimination needs, you can read more about Elimination communication here.

When to seek medical attention

Although baby grunting noises are very normal, if your baby is grunting a lot it can also be a sign that there’s a problem, so it’s important to be able to differentiate between normal grunting noises and a grunting baby that may be unwell.

Lesley says in cases where baby grunting denotes a problem, their grunting will tend to persist (and not just happen when your baby is trying to have a poo or take a noisy breath’) and be accompanied by the following signs and symptoms:

• A change in colour

• They seem distressed

• They have a high temperature

• Flaring their nostrils when they breathe in

• Other signs of laboured breathing may indicate more serious conditions like reflux, infection, RSV, or other respiratory issues — such as their chest/tummy ‘sucks in’ when they breathe in

“In such cases, or if you feel that there is something not right with your baby, always seek urgent medical advice,” says Lesley.

Other times your baby may grunt

If your newborn is grunting but they aren’t experiencing any of the symptoms above, the chances are they probably don’t have grunting baby syndrome and it could be something else.

1) Constipation

If baby is baby grunting and straining it may be that they are constipated. This is when bowel movements become less frequent, and your baby is finding it difficult to poo. It can be confused with grunting baby syndrome quite a lot, but if your baby has grunting baby syndrome, their poo will be soft. There’s lots of ways you can help your baby’s constipation.

Mother uses massage technique on baby’s leg. Concept of traditional colic and constipation relief

2) Reflux

This is when your baby brings back up milk or is sick shortly after being fed, as the muscles at the base of their food pipe aren’t fully developed. It’s extremely common in babies before eight weeks old and can cause them to cry and potentially grunt.

Holding your baby during and after feeding for as long as possible can help prevent this, as well as making sure they sleep flat on their back. However, as your baby’s muscles develop, they should grow out of this.

3) Sepsis, meningitis or heart failure

These more severe conditions can cause newborn babies to grunt, but cases are very rare. If your baby is grunting, it’s much more likely to be reflux, constipation or grunting baby syndrome. However, if you notice the grunting in addition to any of the following symptoms, contact your GP immediately.

Sepsis (blood poisoning) – Fever, blue tinge in the lips or tongue, breathlessness or breathing very fast, a weak high pitched cry (that’s not like their normal cry), reduced urination, flopiness.

Meningitis (infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) – have a high pitched cry, refuse feeds, be irritable, have a stiff body, be floppy or unresponsive, have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head, seizures, fever, vomiting, cold hands and feet.

Heart failure (when the heart is unable to pump blood round the body properly, usually when it’s become to stiff or weak) – unable to gain weight, shortness of breath, falling asleep during feeds or too tierd to feed, coughing, irritable, excessive sweating after feeding, swelling in body parts.

About the expert

Lesley Gilchrist, BSc (Hons) Midwifery Studies, MSc Clinical Research Methods, is the CEO and founder of ‘My Expert Midwife’ and has been a midwife since 2003, working in some of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe. Through this time, Lesley has gained invaluable experience and insight into maternity care, labour and birth.

Having graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a first in Journalism, Mother and Baby Digital Writer Bryony Firth-Bernard went on to work as a reporter at Heart Radio West before becoming the lifestyle intern across Good Housekeeping, Prima and Red magazine.

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Mother and Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.

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