For many new parents, there are few things as sweet as a quiet nursery at night. But that peace can quickly be shattered by their baby grunting in their sleep.
Is that normal? What causes those grunts? And is there anything to worry about?
In this article, we discuss some of the reasons why babies may grunt in their sleep, when to be concerned, and how to help your little one sleep better night after night.
Key Takeaways
Table of contents
- Why do babies grunt in their sleep?
- Should you be concerned about your baby grunting in their sleep?
- Will your baby ever stop grunting in their sleep?
- How to help your baby sleep better
Why do babies grunt in their sleep?
Let’s face it. Babies can make all kinds of noises when they sleep, especially in the early months. Don’t be surprised if you hear your baby:
- Snoring
- Whimpering
- Sighing
- Snorting
- Smacking lips
- Hiccuping
- Rattling/whistling
- Gurgling
- Moaning
- And, finally, grunting
All of these sounds are normal, including grunting. As we’ll touch on, unless the grunting is accompanied by other symptoms, there’s really nothing to worry about.
That said, if you are at all concerned about your little one’s sleep schedule, patterns, or habits, talk with a pediatrician or other health professional.
Now let’s get into some of the reasons your baby might be grunting in their sleep.
Digestive issues
One of the main reasons babies grunt in their sleep is digestive issues.
This type of tummy trouble isn’t really anything to be worried about, though. It’s most often just your newborn’s body learning how to coordinate muscle movement and break down breastmilk or formula.
As a result of this activity inside your baby’s body, they may grunt, gurgle, or make other noises while they sleep. Unless it’s accompanied by other signs and symptoms (which we’ll discuss in the next section), it’s a normal part of your baby growing up.
Swallowing
Sometimes your baby will fall asleep before they’re done taking their bottle or breastfeeding. When this happens, some of the formula or milk might not make it all the way to their tummy. If it sits in the back of their throat, they might make a grunting or gurgling sound when they breathe.
Sleep transitions
Newborn babies cycle through the various stages of sleep every 45 to 50 minutes.
Some of these stages are lighter than (or not as deep as) others, which allows your little one to move around (e.g., jerk their arms, turn their head, kick their legs), wake slightly, and grunt in their sleep.
These transitions, and the grunts, noises, and movements that come with them, are nothing to worry about and are a natural part of healthy sleep patterns.
Active sleep
Your baby’s sleep is characterized by two main stages: the non-rapid eye movement (NREM or “quiet sleep”) stage and the rapid eye movement (REM or “active sleep”) stage.
Babies spend 40-50% of their sleep in the REM stage (compared to 15% for adults). Why? Because brain development and sensory processing take place during this active sleep. Rapid eye movement, twitching, and grunting go hand in hand with this learning.
This doesn’t mean your little one is in distress. It’s simply a different type of sleep than the quiet, still type that you probably associate with slumber.
Nasal congestion
Twelve to 16 weeks after they’re born, your little one will start to breathe through their mouth more often. Until then, they primarily breathe through their nose.
Those nasal passages are so tiny that it only takes a small bit of congestion to interrupt their sleep. Even if they don’t wake up completely, they may grunt as a way to clear their stuffy nose so they can return to breathing easily while they sleep.
Learning curve
Your baby may still be learning how to breathe. After all, they just spent months getting their oxygen through a placenta and umbilical cord! If you hear them panting or if they go for a few seconds without inhaling, you’re probably hearing them coordinate their brain and lungs.
This is called “normal periodic breathing of infancy,” and it’s just that: normal. While this too-slow or too-fast breathing might be scary for you to hear, as long as your baby isn’t showing any other signs of distress, there’s no need to worry.
Natural development
Your baby is constantly exploring, experimenting with, and learning about their body. That certainly includes their vocal cords and all the wonderful noises they can make, both while they’re awake and while they’re asleep.
Your baby grunting in their sleep may be nothing more than them trying something new or “practicing” a muscle movement or sound so they can incorporate it into their activity while awake.
Nine times out of 10, those grunts don’t have any meaning at all.
Hunger
As every new parent knows, babies spend a lot of time hungry and will exhibit specific behaviors when they want to feed. These behaviors (such as rooting noises, lip-smacking, suckling, and grunting) can even come out while your little one is asleep.
If you begin to hear your baby grunting in their sleep, it could be a sign that they’re hungry and may wake up soon to feed.
Bowel movement
As we’ve mentioned already, newborns are still learning how to coordinate all their muscle movements. This is especially true for their pelvic and tummy muscles.
So, if they need to move their bowels while they sleep, they may grunt and strain to make it happen.
These sounds and movements even have a name: grunting baby syndrome. Yes, it can be nerve-wracking to watch your newborn struggle, but they’ll likely figure it all out in a week or two and calm down after that.
Dreams
Just like you sometimes make sounds when you’re dreaming, your baby might, too. Unlike most of the other causes of grunting, this one is here for the long haul!
Just practicing
Do you want to know one more reason why your little one may make grunting noises in their sleep? Because they’re practicing vocalization, even when they don’t know they are!
Should you be concerned about your baby grunting in their sleep?
Most of the time, your baby grunting in their sleep is completely normal and is nothing to worry about. But if grunting is accompanied by other symptoms, talk to a doctor as soon as possible.
These symptoms include:
- Labored breathing
- Skin or lips turning blue
- Face reddening
- Chest heaving
- Fast breathing
- Receding chin while inhaling
- Rhythmic grunting paired with flared nostrils
- An extra-long exhale
- A whistling sound on exhale
- Fever
- Lethargy
Will your baby ever stop grunting in their sleep?
Yes, your baby will eventually stop grunting in their sleep. First, their body will figure out how to function efficiently, so their lungs, vocal cords, and digestive system will settle down into more typical activity.
Second, sometime between three and six months, your little one will start spending less time in the active REM sleep stage and more time in the quieter NREM sleep stage.
Either or both of these developmental milestones may result in a reduction, or even a complete elimination, of grunting during sleep.
How to help your baby sleep better
Place your baby on their back.
To help your baby sleep better, place them on their back to start.
Eventually, your little one will learn how to roll over (usually around four months old), so you may find them sleeping on their stomach or their side in the morning or if you check on them during the night.
That said, always place your baby on their back first. The best thing you can do to ensure a good (and safe) night’s sleep is to use a firm, breathable mattress in their crib.
Clear their airways.
As we mentioned earlier, it’s very easy for your baby’s nose to become congested, which can keep them from getting the sleep they need.
You can help prevent this from happening by manually clearing their nasal passages before putting them down for the night.
Safe options include:
- Saline nasal spray
- Bulb aspirator
- Gentle, newborn-safe suction device
Be sure to check with your pediatrician on what they recommend before manually clearing your little one’s nose.
Watch your baby’s hydration.
Keeping your baby hydrated with formula or breastmilk is good for them in general, but it’s even more important when they’re congested. It loosens and thins the mucus trapped in their nose, sinuses, and throat.
Additionally, hydration keeps your baby feeling full, which should help them stay asleep and minimize some of that hunger grunting. And, lastly, hydration is a factor in regulating body temperature.
Choose a firm crib mattress.
Although you might sleep better on a fluffy bed, soft mattresses aren’t safe for babies. When it comes to choosing a crib mattress for your infant, the firmer the better.
But keep in mind that firm doesn’t have to mean rock hard and uncomfortable.
The Newton Crib Mattress is the perfect combination of comfy and safe: comfortable enough to allow your little one to “sleep like a baby” but firm enough to provide a safe sleeping environment.
Create a soothing environment.
Make the room dark, especially if your baby has begun to understand the difference between day and night. Use curtains or blinds, if you have them, or you might want to consider using blackout shades.
And if your little one is a light sleeper, you could try placing a sound machine in their bedroom. This is useful for any part of your baby’s sleep cycle, but it’s especially helpful as they link their REM and NREM sleep cycles together.
Note: If you choose to add a sound machine in your baby’s room, make sure it’s not right next to their bed (to protect their little ears) and that any cords or other attachments are out of reach.
Pay attention to wake windows.
Wake windows, or the amount of time your baby is awake between naps, help set up your baby for sleep success. If you can figure out the best periods of time to keep your baby awake and active, they’ll be tired (but not overtired!) when it’s time for them to sleep again.
Being both adequately rested and engaged is key to your little one having a peaceful sleep. And when they’re sleeping well, they’re less likely to stir and make grunting noises.
Keep the sleep area cool.
If your little one gets too hot, they may not sleep as deeply as they could (and grunt more in the process), or they could wake up because they either have a sweaty back or they’re uncomfortable.
To help your baby sleep better and possibly grunt less, keep the temperature set between 68℉ and 72℉.
Setting the room to a cooler temperature (as well as using a breathable mattress!) keeps your baby’s back free from sweat and helps them stay comfortable throughout the night.
Try using a humidifier or air purifier.
When your baby’s congestion is the cause of them grunting in their sleep, you might want to try using a cool-air humidifier in their room. Just make sure you don’t have it steaming directly into their crib and that, again, any cords or attachments are out of reach.
Another idea is giving your little one a steam session before bed. Bring them into the bathroom with the hot water running in the tub to create steam in the room. Just be sure to keep the steam session to five minutes or less and keep a close eye on your little one to prevent overheating.
Finally, if you believe your baby might be stuffed up because of dust particles or other potential allergens, bring an air purifier into their room. This will clean the air by removing particles that might be irritating your baby’s nose.
While you may be tempted to raise your baby’s head as they sleep to alleviate their stuffy nose, don’t forget that the AAP recommends always placing your baby on a firm, flat mattress on their back.
Remove blankets, pillows, and toys from the crib.
To help your little one sleep well (and, most of all, safely), take all blankets, pillows, toys, and crib bumpers out of the crib. You’ll also want to make sure the bedding isn’t too loose.
For safe bedding, choose a tight-fitting bottom sheet (and no top sheet). Consider going with a sheet that’s breathable, soft, and tailored to fit a standard-sized crib mattress.
That said, while crib sheets are cute, maybe you prefer to go without one. Good news: you can with a Newton mattress!
Our included mattress cover is comfy enough for your baby to sleep on. Plus, it’s completely washable, which makes cleanup a breeze. Keep an extra cover on hand to use during laundry days and for those unexpected, yet inevitable, nighttime diaper leaks.
Here are a few other tips to try.
If your baby’s nighttime grunting soundtrack isn’t dangerous but is interfering with their sleep, try incorporating some of these routines into their day:
- Give your baby plenty of tummy time. If you can do it a few times a day, they’ll have the opportunity to build more neck, chest, core, and head muscles. All of this new strength also improves their digestive system.
- Keep your baby upright after you feed them. Giving them a little bit of time to digest their food before laying them down helps prevent gassiness and reflux.
- If your baby does tend to get gassy, you can try both bicycling their legs during the day and giving them a massage, too.
- Try contact naps during the day. If you’ve got the time, see what happens if you let your baby take a nap on your chest. The movement of your breathing can help them release trapped gas, which means they might sleep more peacefully (and quietly!) at night.
Rest easy with Newton Baby.
Hearing your baby grunting in their sleep can be worrisome, especially the first time it happens. Just remember that, in most cases, those noises are simply a normal part of their development and unique sleep cycle!
The best thing you can do for your newborn is keep an eye out for other symptoms and make their sleep environment as comfortable as possible with a firm, breathable mattress from Newton.
Combine that with soft, organic cotton sheets (also from Newton) and you’ll have the epitome of comfort and safety for newborns, toddlers, and children of all ages.
For more information on helping your baby sleep through the night and to check out our crib mattresses, sheets, pads, and swaddles, visit NewtonBaby.com today.
Frequently asked questions
Will my baby’s sleep noises, like grunting, disrupt the quality of their sleep?
Your baby will most likely sleep through their own noises, especially if the sounds are only occasional and are due to adapting to living (and breathing!) outside the womb. But it’s also important to remember that babies are light sleepers, so they’ll be waking up often anyway.
If you notice your baby making lots of noises and waking up more than their usual amount during the night, they may be telling you they’re uncomfortable. Often, the culprit is trapped gas, especially if your baby’s digestive system is still developing.
What does a baby’s active sleep look like?
Active sleep, or REM sleep, looks busy! During this light part of your baby’s sleep cycle, you may see them squirm, twitch, or jerk their arms and legs. You may hear them make sounds like grunting, whimpering, sighing, and more, and their eyes may move rapidly under their eyelids.
During REM sleep, especially when your baby is a newborn, you may notice irregular breathing. Your baby may stop breathing for a short five to 10 second period of time and then speed up their breathing for 10 to 15 seconds before returning to normal. They may repeat this process.
What do my baby’s different sleep noises indicate?
While every baby makes sounds for their own unique reasons, there are some common correlations between sounds and their meanings.
Usually soft and breathy, cooing and sighing generally happen in lighter sleep cycles (like REM sleep) and in transitions between various sleep cycles.
Grunting and groaning, on the other hand, which can sound like snorting, are often connected to a baby’s immature digestive system and gassiness. Sometimes babies make these adorable pig-like sounds when they’re stretching, too!
If your baby is snoring, they may have a blocked airway in their nose or throat. This can be because of their small nasal passage or because they’ve got a cold and have a stuffy nose.
The Moro Reflex is an unconscious reflex in infants. When they hear an unexpected sound, they become startled (by a sudden sound or movement), they fling their arms out and then quickly bring them back to their body. They’ll often make a reactive sound when this happens.
Finally, a whimpering or crying sound could mean a number of different things. Your baby could be transitioning from one part of their sleep cycle to another. Or they might be responding to a dream they’re having. They also might be reacting to a mild discomfort like a wet diaper.
When will my baby stop making so many sounds when they’re sleeping?
Different sleep sounds will resolve themselves as your baby grows. For instance, the straining and grunting noises you hear while your baby sleeps might ebb away as early as two weeks old.
And babies tend to stop exclusively breathing out of their nose when they’re between three and four months old, which curbs another kind of noise. Some babies hiccup frequently in their sleep, and this tends to disappear between six months and a year old.
