Baby Snorts When Crying- Should I Be Concerned?

Babies are tiny little humans that make quite a lot of noise, from sneezing to snorting. It may sound like something to worry about, but this is actually pretty normal!

The air on the outside is pretty dry compared to your womb, where your baby has been staying for the last 9 months. Your baby’s lungs have just started taking in air; that’s why you hear snorting and other noises.

Here I’ll tell you about the different noises they might make and when to be concerned.

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How Do I Know If My Baby Is Breathing Normally?

A newborn would usually take 40 to 60 breaths per minute while awake. While they’re sleeping, it’s anywhere from 30 to 60 breaths per minute. If your baby seems like they’re going faster than this, then it may indicate a breathing problem.

As I mentioned before, your baby has just started using their lungs and nose. They are mostly nose-breathers, meaning they do not use their mouth. Therefore, newborn breathing patterns, especially during sleeping, can sound slightly irregular.

I know, mums! It’s normal, even though it’s stressful for us.

For your peace of mind (and sanity), you can check your baby’s temperature to make sure nothing is wrong. After that, you can watch your baby’s skin color during breathing pauses. It should remain constant throughout. Your baby will sooner or later grow out of this breathing pattern by 6 months.

To calculate your baby’s breathing rate, count the number of times the stomach moves up and down in 30 seconds. Then simply double the number to get the pattern. A rise and fall are one breath.

So, Why The Strange Noises?

Many Reddit mothers say that their baby grunts, snorts, and makes other strange noises. They earn cute names, but mums get quite concerned when their baby is always making these noises.

Snorts and grunts are normal because your baby breathes through their noses. This allows them to do everything while breathing, such as feeding, crying, or playing with their toys.

Sometimes, your baby can sound a little congested and chesty.

This is due to the mucus in their nose. If the mucus goes to the back of the throat, it’ll cause a gurgling noise. Since they cannot blow their nose, it produces a sniffle, snort, or whistle as the air goes through. It’s good to check your baby’s mucus as it says a lot about their health.

It can also move to the voice box and the windpipe, which will produce that chestiness. These noises are a part of normal breathing. It’s like your baby is finding his/her footing with the lungs and breathing.

When Should I Be Concerned?

If your baby displays the following, then you should call your doctor:

You can hear your baby wheezing like every breath is hard to take.
Your baby’s nostril flares when they breathe.
Sniffling turns into difficult breathing.
Your baby’s chest retracts with each breath.

Why Does My Baby Sound Congested With No Mucus?

Your baby can sound congested even if they have no mucus.

They have only been humans for a while now, with miniature nasal passages. Their nostrils and airways are also super small, which is affected by any dryness or clear mucus. But, don’t worry! This is normal and a vital part of their development.

However, there are some factors that can affect how much congestion they have. Knowing these factors can help you reduce the sniffles. I’ll also drop some home treatments you can do to help your baby with congestion.

Knowing these factors can also help you identify a serious problem.

Your baby may be congested due to the following:

Premature babies- These babies have even smaller air passages, which makes noisy breathing more likely.
Dry air- Low humidity is usually the culprit of a dry nasal passage. This could be due to staying in a hot climate or overusing the heater. A humidifier for your baby’s room should fix this (if you can invest).
Weather changes- The drop in temperature in the change from summer to winter even makes my nose feel weird! Your baby is likely to sound more congested and snortier at this time.
Certain smells- This includes cooking smoke, strong perfume, diffusers, or harmful fumes from household cleaning stuff. Avoid these around your baby as they can cause the sniffles.

Home Remedies To Ease Your Baby’s Chestiness

Although you can’t see the mucus, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Since your baby chills out on his/her back most of the time, mucus is collected at the back of their throat or nose, which causes all kinds of strange noises.

You can use one of my home remedies to relieve congestion:

A lovely warm bath- This is a calming activity, and warm water can help clear up their chest.
Cool mist humidifier- This can prevent dry air in the room and keep moisture in the air. This won’t irritate your baby’s nose.
Facial massage- Using your thumb, massage the forehead, temples, nasal bridge, and cheekbones. This can drain your baby’s nose and get out the mucus.
Saline drops- You can put some saline drops in each nostril to thin out the mucus. Bonus if your baby sneezes and gets the mucus out almost immediately.
Don’t put your baby on their back all the time. Even wrapping them on your back while you go about your day is also a great way to get them in different positions. This is also a great way of bonding!
Make sure your house or the baby’s room is clear of any pollutants, dust, and allergens. You can make your house more baby-friendly to have the best environment! Keep your windows open when cleaning.

Congestion, snorting, grunting, and other noises are just a part of your baby’s growing stages. It resolves itself as they grow into the terrible twos!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is grunting in babies normal?

Grunting is normal for your baby to do while they sleep, along with snoring. Yes, your baby can snore!

These noises are normal and do not show any breathing problems.

What does it mean when a baby snorts?

Your baby is a nose-breather, so that’s why they snort and grunt a lot. It helps them breathe while feeding.

However, persistent grunting can indicate something more serious, as it’s the body’s way to keep air in the lungs. If this is the situation, you should take your baby to the doctor.