Noisy Newborns
Why are newborns so loud when they sleep?
Does your newborn make noises ALL NIGHT long? Newborn sleep sounds and movements are the results of a newborn’s immature nervous system and reflexes. They also spend much of their sleep cycle (about half!) in REM, or “active” sleep.
During the REM state, a baby may be moving simply due to the activity happening in their brain. All this movement can be noisy. Also, your baby may make sounds, from a gurgle to a whimper or even a cry.
It is very common for newborns to be noisy sleepers.
Normal sounds include….
Vocalizations- whimpers or cries
Gurgling or throaty sounds
Coughing or sneezing
Digestive sounds (burping)
NOT normal sounds include…
Very rapid or strained/constricted, repeated grunting after each breath
Pauses or gasps between breaths
Any other symptom like lethargy, fever, or change of color with a change in breathing patterns
If you notice any of these, contact your doctor ASAP.
What should I do?
Newborns need to feed frequently, even through the night, but you always want to be sure that if your baby is ACTUALLY waking up and giving hunger cues (smacking lips, sucking fists, rooting, fussing, etc.) so that you can offer a feeding. Otherwise, you can pause for a moment before responding and picking up your baby assuming they are awake. Sometimes, they are actually still sleeping, even though they look or sound like they are waking up! This causes us to sometimes interrupt them when they may have transitioned to a new sleep cycle without fully waking up.
When will it stop?
It’s gradual, but babies usually aren’t quite so noisy after the first few months. By around five months of age, most babies sleep cycles have started the maturation process, meaning they are spending less time in that REM/ “active” stage of sleep.
When I was a new parent, these little grunts and groans came as such a shock to me and made it hard for me to sleep even when my baby was sleeping. I promise, it doesn’t last forever!
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