Understanding your baby’s breathing can be both reassuring and essential for their health and safety. Babies—especially newborns—often breathe in ways that may seem unusual but are completely normal. Here’s what to expect, and when to seek medical attention.
What’s Normal Breathing for a Baby?
- Irregular Breathing Patterns: It’s normal for newborns to breathe irregularly. They may breathe quickly for a few seconds, pause for up to 10 seconds, then resume a more regular pace. This pattern is known as periodic breathing and is common in babies under 6 months old.
- Breathing Rate: A healthy newborn typically breathes 30 to 60 times per minute when awake and slightly slower during sleep—around 20 to 40 times per minute.
- Noisy Breathing: Babies often make whistling, snorting, or grunting sounds, especially during feeding or sleep. Their nasal passages are small, and a bit of mucus can make breathing sound louder than expected.
- Belly Breathing: Infants tend to breathe using their diaphragm more than their chest. You’ll notice their belly rising and falling more visibly—that’s normal.
When to Be Concerned
While many breathing quirks are harmless, you should contact your doctor or seek urgent care if your baby shows any of the following:
- Persistent fast breathing (over 60 breaths per minute)
- Grunting with each breath
- Flaring nostrils or visible effort to breathe
- Blue or gray coloring around the lips, face, or fingernails
- Chest retractions (skin pulling in between or below the ribs)
- Pauses in breathing lasting more than 20 seconds
Tips to Keep Baby Breathing Well
- Keep the nose clear: Use a nasal aspirator or saline drops if your baby sounds congested.
- Sleep safely: Always place your baby on their back to sleep, on a firm mattress with no loose bedding.
- Avoid smoke exposure: Secondhand smoke increases the risk of respiratory problems and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
In Summary
Most unusual breathing patterns in babies are normal and temporary. As long as your baby is feeding well, gaining weight, and not showing signs of distress, there’s usually no cause for worry. However, always trust your instincts—if something doesn’t seem right, it’s okay to call your pediatrician.
