Why is my baby breathing so fast? Why does it sound like there’s phlegm in her chest? My baby is breathing through her mouth. Is that normal? And what do normal newborn breathing patterns actually look like?
Parents, raise your hand if you’ve ever stood over the cot at 3am, watching your precious newborn sleep and waiting for that tiny chest to rise again. If you’re waving your arms right now, you’re definitely not alone.
Worrying about your baby’s breathing is one of the most common new-parent fears. Babies don’t come with a manual, and as they reach new milestones, they’ll throw new surprises your way.
Newborn breathing in particular can look and sound strange, especially in the first two months, because their lungs and the part of the brain that controls breathing are still maturing. Understanding normal newborn breathing patterns can save you a lot of sleepless worry.
The good news? Most of those snuffles, squeaks and pauses are completely normal. If you’re a first-time parent, read on to learn about normal newborn breathing patterns, and the signs that mean it’s time to get help.
Normal Newborn Breathing Patterns: What to Expect
It can be hard to tell if your baby isn’t breathing properly, especially when everything about them is new to you. Here’s what’s normal for a newborn:
- A faster rate than yours. Newborns usually take 30 to 60 breaths per minute when awake, and this can slow to around 30 to 40 breaths per minute when they’re asleep. (Adults take about 12 to 20.)
- Belly breathing. Babies breathe mostly using their tummy muscles, so it’s normal to see the belly, rather than the chest, rising and falling.
- Irregular rhythm. A few fast breaths, a short pause, then normal breathing again. This is called periodic breathing (more on that below).
- Little noises. Snorts, sniffles, squeaks and whistles are common, because babies have very narrow nasal passages.
How to count your baby’s breaths: When your baby is calm or asleep, watch their tummy and count each time it rises for a full 60 seconds. Don’t count for 15 seconds and multiply, as their breathing is too irregular for that to be accurate.
Contact your paediatrician if anything about your baby’s breathing worries you. In an emergency, call 995 or go to the nearest Children’s Emergency.
Image Source: iStock
Are Pauses Part of Normal Newborn Breathing Patterns?
This is the one that sends many parents into a panic, but yes, it usually is. Periodic breathing is very common in newborns, particularly premature babies. Your baby may breathe quickly for a bit, then pause for a few seconds (usually under 10), then go back to breathing normally, all without any change in colour.
Periodic breathing tends to happen during sleep and usually settles by around six months as your baby’s brain and lungs mature.
What’s not normal is a pause of 20 seconds or more, or a shorter pause where your baby turns pale, blue or floppy. This could be apnoea and needs urgent medical attention.
Normal Newborn Breathing Patterns vs Retractions
Normal newborn breathing patterns look relaxed. Your baby’s tummy gently rises and falls, and they don’t look like they’re working hard to get air in and out.
Retractions are different. They happen when your baby is struggling to breathe and uses extra muscles to pull air in. You’ll see the skin suck inward between the ribs, under the ribcage, above the collarbone or at the base of the neck with each breath.
Retractions are a sign that your baby is working too hard to breathe. If you notice them, seek medical attention straight away.
Baby Breathing Sounds Like Phlegm
Does your baby sound rattly or “chesty”, like there’s phlegm stuck in their throat? In many cases, it’s simply milk, saliva or mucus sitting at the back of the throat or in the nose. Young babies haven’t yet learnt to swallow or cough it away efficiently, so it rattles as air moves past.
If your baby is feeding well, interacting with you as usual and has a normal colour, those noises are usually nothing to worry about. Holding your baby upright after feeds and using saline drops for a blocked nose can help.
However, see a doctor promptly if the rattly breathing comes with a fever, fast breathing, wheezing, a persistent cough, or if your baby is feeding poorly or seems unusually sleepy.
Baby Breathing Fast
Fast breathing is one of the most common normal newborn breathing patterns. Babies naturally breathe faster than adults. Their lungs are smaller, their airways are narrower, and their bodies need a lot of oxygen to fuel all that growing. So even when your baby is sleeping peacefully, they’ll breathe faster than you do.
Breathing also speeds up briefly when your baby is crying, feeding, excited or too warm. That’s fine as long as it settles once they’re calm.
Call your doctor if your baby is consistently breathing more than 60 times a minute while calm, or if fast breathing comes with grunting, wheezing, flaring nostrils, retractions or a fever.
Baby Breathing Heavily
Heavy or noisy breathing in babies can happen for a few reasons, and most of them are harmless.
The most common cause is a blocked nose. Because babies prefer to breathe through their noses, even a little mucus can make their breathing sound loud and laboured. A cold, dry air from the air-con, or milk that’s come back up can all do this.
Some babies also have a floppy voice box (laryngomalacia), which causes a high-pitched, squeaky sound when they breathe in, especially when lying on their back or feeding. It usually improves on its own as the baby grows, but let your paediatrician check it.
Heavy breathing is a concern if your baby looks like they’re straining to breathe, is grunting with each breath, has retractions, or isn’t feeding well. Get medical help in these cases.
Why Is My Baby Breathing With Her Mouth Open
Young babies are mostly nose breathers, so if your baby is breathing with her mouth open, it’s often a sign that her nose is blocked. A cold, allergies, or a stuffy nose from dry air are common culprits.
Some babies also simply relax into a slightly open mouth during deep sleep, which is harmless if their breathing is otherwise quiet and easy.
To help clear a stuffy nose, try a few saline drops in each nostril followed by gentle suction with a nasal aspirator, especially before feeds and sleep. A cool-mist humidifier in the room can also help.
If your baby has been diagnosed with a condition like asthma and starts breathing hard through her mouth, follow the action plan from her doctor and get medical help if she isn’t improving.
Why Is My Baby Breathing Through His Mouth
If your baby is breathing through his mouth regularly, even when he doesn’t have a cold, it’s worth paying attention. Ongoing mouth breathing can sometimes be linked to enlarged adenoids or tonsils, allergies, or a deviated septum.
Signs to mention to your paediatrician include loud snoring most nights, pauses or gasps during sleep, restless sleep, or a constantly stuffy nose. Your baby may also be extra fussy if he’s dealing with something like teething or an ear infection on top of a blocked nose.
Occasional mouth breathing during a cold is common and should clear up as the cold goes away. If it doesn’t, book a check-up.
Does Baby Sneezing Mean There is a Problem
Usually not! Newborns sneeze a lot, and it’s mostly their way of clearing dust, milk and mucus from their tiny nasal passages. Sneezing on its own, without other symptoms, is normal.
Sneezing may point to a cold or other infection if it comes with a runny or blocked nose, cough, fever or changes in feeding. If your baby has a persistent runny nose or cough that lasts more than 10 days, it’s worth getting your paediatrician to take a look.
What to Do When Baby Keeps Sneezing
It can feel a little scary when your baby keeps sneezing, but you don’t need to panic! A few simple steps can help you work out what’s going on.
First, check for signs of a cold or flu:
- Is your baby’s nose runny or stuffy?
- Do they have a fever?
- Are they coughing? If so, how often and for how long?
If the answer is yes, your baby may have an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold or RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Most are mild, but any baby under three months with a temperature of 38°C or higher should see a doctor straight away.
Next, ask yourself: is your baby feeding well? Are they having enough fluids? A blocked nose can make it hard to feed, so try saline drops and gentle suction before feeds, and offer smaller, more frequent feeds.
Keep an eye on wet diapers. Fewer wet diapers than usual, a dry mouth or no tears when crying can be signs of dehydration. Keep offering breast milk or formula. Babies under six months shouldn’t be given plain water.
If your baby seems unusually sleepy, floppy or irritable, or is feeding much less than normal, see a doctor.
Image Source: iStock
Beyond Normal Newborn Breathing Patterns: Signs Your Baby Needs Urgent Help
Your baby’s breathing is a vital indicator of their well-being. If what you’re seeing doesn’t match normal newborn breathing patterns, act fast. Call 995 or head to Children’s Emergency immediately if you notice any of these:
- Rapid breathing: Consistently more than 60 breaths per minute while calm.
- Grunting sounds: A grunt or moan at the end of each breath could indicate respiratory distress.
- Flaring nostrils: Nostrils widening with each breath means your baby is working hard to breathe.
- Retractions: Visible pulling in of the chest, ribs or neck with each breath.
- Cyanosis: A bluish or greyish tint to the lips, tongue or face suggests your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen.
- Long pauses: Breathing stops for 20 seconds or more, or a shorter pause comes with a change in colour or floppiness.
- Too tired to feed: Your baby is struggling to breathe and feed at the same time, or is unusually drowsy and hard to wake.
How to Protect Your Baby’s Breathing
You can’t prevent every sniffle, but these habits can lower your baby’s risk of respiratory infections and keep them breathing safely:
- Wash hands before handling your baby, and ask visitors to do the same.
- Keep sick visitors away, and avoid crowded places during the first few months where possible.
- Keep your baby’s home smoke-free, including vapes and e-cigarettes.
- Follow safe sleep practices: always put your baby to sleep on their back, on a firm, flat mattress, with no pillows, bumpers or soft toys in the cot.
- Keep up with your baby’s vaccinations under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule.
- Ask your paediatrician about RSV protection. Preventive antibody injections for infants are available in Singapore, though they aren’t currently subsidised. Your doctor can advise if they’re suitable for your baby.
Knowing normal newborn breathing patterns helps you spot when something is off. Above all, trust your instincts as a parent. You know your baby best, and you should never hesitate to seek medical help if you’re worried about their breathing.
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.
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