X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Baby Breathing Problems: How To Tell If Your Baby Is Breathing Correctly

7 min read

Have you ever worried about a baby’s breathing problem? Babies do not come with a manual. As they grow, they will begin to experience new milestones and challenges. If you have a baby 2 months old or less, you’ll want to track their breathing patterns.

You may not know it, but it’s often hard for new parents to identify. One of the reasons is that it happens so frequently. If you’re a first-time parent, read along to know how to tell if your baby is breathing correctly.

Table of Contents

  • How to Tell if Baby Breathing Is Normal
  • Normal Baby Breathing vs Retractions
  • Baby Breathing Sounds Like Phlegm
  • Baby Breathing Fast
  • Baby Breathing Heavily
  • Why Is My Baby Breathing With Her Mouth Open
  • Why Is My Baby Breathing Through His Mouth
  • Does Baby Sneezing Means a Problem
  • What to Do When Baby Keeps Sneezing

How to Tell if Baby Breathing Is Normal

You might be worried that your baby isn’t breathing correctly. Here are some signs that can help you determine if what your seeing is normal for a baby’s respiratory system. Contact your paediatrician or local emergency room immediately if you have any concerns about your child’s breathing.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if your baby is breathing normally, especially when you’re a new parent. Here are some things to look for:

  • Is the belly rising and falling? (If it’s not moving, that’s a sign of trouble)
  • Do they make noises when they breathe? (Grunting or wheezing are signs that something’s wrong.)
  • Are they coughing or sneezing? (This can be normal, but if it happens too much or too hard, it’s time to get help.)

baby breathing

Normal Baby Breathing vs Retractions

Normal baby breathing is just like it sounds: normal. Your newborn should have no trouble absorbing air and letting it out again as they sleep or play. If they have trouble with this task, they may need help from an inhaler or other medical device to keep their lungs clear and healthy.

Retractions happen when the muscles of your baby’s chest wall tighten up and pull inward toward the centre of their body whenever they breathe. This makes their ribcage look like it has shrunken inward instead of expanded outward as it normally does when inhaling air into their lungs and exhaling carbon dioxide back out through their nose or mouth (or both).

Baby Breathing Sounds Like Phlegm

If your baby is making a lot of coughing and choking sounds, it could be because they are having trouble breathing. The sounds are similar to phlegm, so you might think something is stuck in their throat. However, it just indicates how hard they are working on breathing.

If your baby is making these noises and seems otherwise normal, then there’s no need to worry. However, if they’re not moving around or interacting with others during this time or if they seem to be having difficulty breathing on their own, then you should contact a medical professional immediately.

Baby Breathing Fast

It’s normal for babies to breathe fast when they’re asleep. Their lungs are still developing, and they can’t control their breathing yet, so they take in more oxygen than adults.

Babies also have a higher metabolic rate than adults because they have more muscle mass and less body fat, which means more work for their organs. So even when sleeping, your baby will breathe faster than you do.

Call the doctor immediately if your breathing seems laboured or you hear wheezing or gurgling sounds, call the doctor right away!

baby breathing

Baby Breathing Heavily

Your baby is breathing heavily, which can happen for various reasons.

Breathing heavily can signify that your baby is not feeling well, and it’s important to ensure they’re okay.

One reason your baby might be breathing heavily is due to teething. Teething can cause your baby to feel discomfort and pain, which may lead them to breathe heavily and rub their gums against the surface they’re lying on.

Another reason your baby might be breathing heavily is that they’re having trouble falling asleep. If this happens often, you should speak with your doctor about ways to help them sleep better and reduce their stress levels before bedtime so that they can get more restful sleep each night and feel more rested during the day.

Why Is My Baby Breathing With Her Mouth Open

Your baby may be breathing with her mouth open because she’s having trouble breathing through her nose. This can happen for several reasons, including allergies, colds and flu, or a stuffed-up nose.

If your baby has been diagnosed with asthma, she may also breathe through her mouth when she’s experiencing an asthma attack.

If you notice that your baby is breathing through her mouth, try to keep her calm and comfortable while you’re waiting for medical help to arrive.

Why Is My Baby Breathing Through His Mouth

Your baby may be breathing through his mouth because he’s teething or in pain from an ear infection or allergies. You can tell if your baby is breathing through his mouth because you’ll see a small hole between his lips and cheeks.

Call your doctor immediately if your baby is breathing through his mouth for more than 24 hours.

Does Baby Sneezing Means a Problem

A baby’s sneezing can signify an upper respiratory infection, allergies, or even a cold. The type of sneeze your baby has can help determine if you should take him to the doctor.

If your child is very young and sneezes only once or twice and shows no other symptoms, it may be safe to wait and see if he gets better on his own. However, if she has a persistent runny nose or cough that lasts for more than two weeks, it may be worth taking her in for an evaluation by your paediatrician.

What to Do When Baby Keeps Sneezing

It can be a little scary when the baby keeps sneezing, but you don’t need to panic! A few simple steps can help you take control of the situation and make sure your little one gets better.

First, check for signs of a cold or flu:

  • Is baby’s nose stuffy?
  • Is there mucus or phlegm in their throat?
  • Are they coughing? If so, how often and for how long?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it’s likely that your baby is suffering from some kind of infection. They may also have a fever. Call the doctor or take them in immediately; if not, read on!

Next, ask yourself: are they eating well? Sleeping enough? Drinking enough fluids? These are all important questions when it comes to determining whether or not your child has an upper respiratory infection (URI). If they seem especially lethargic or irritable, then it’s likely that they’re feeling ill.

If they aren’t eating well, try feeding them smaller meals more frequently throughout the day instead of one big meal at night (make sure they’re still getting enough calories overall, though!).

Then, keep track of how much water they drink and how often they pee. If they’re staying hydrated and urinating regularly, there’s no need to worry about dehydration—just make sure they’re not drinking too much water, so they don’t become overhydrated.

baby boy sneezing - baby breathing problems article

Image Source: iStock

Partner Stories
How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!
How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
The Ultimate Guide For Parents About Newborn Baby Weight Loss And Gain
The Ultimate Guide For Parents About Newborn Baby Weight Loss And Gain

Stanford Children, WebMD, KidsHealth

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Pheona Ilagan

  • Home
  • /
  • Infant care
  • /
  • Baby Breathing Problems: How To Tell If Your Baby Is Breathing Correctly
Share:
  • How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!
    Partner Stories

    How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!

  • Encouraging Independence in Babies: Tips and Tricks for Parents

    Encouraging Independence in Babies: Tips and Tricks for Parents

  • Maximising Bonding Time While Bottle-Feeding Your Baby: Different Activities to Try

    Maximising Bonding Time While Bottle-Feeding Your Baby: Different Activities to Try

  • How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!
    Partner Stories

    How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!

  • Encouraging Independence in Babies: Tips and Tricks for Parents

    Encouraging Independence in Babies: Tips and Tricks for Parents

  • Maximising Bonding Time While Bottle-Feeding Your Baby: Different Activities to Try

    Maximising Bonding Time While Bottle-Feeding Your Baby: Different Activities to Try

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.