Why do babies grunt so much

The grunting often stops when the newborn learns to relax their pelvic floor and the stomach muscles strengthen. This usually happens at a few months of age. If the baby seems to have trouble passing stool, rubbing petroleum jelly on their anus can help.

However, doing so too often can prevent the baby from learning to pass stool on their own. Irregular breathing patterns are not usually a cause for concern, unless the newborn shows signs of breathing difficulties.

A baby monitor can help a caregiver to check for indications of abnormal breathing when the newborn is asleep. Some people also use movement monitors, which sound an alarm if the baby stops moving for longer than usual. If these home remedies do not help, the newborn may have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD.

Some of these symptoms are listed below. These symptoms can indicate difficulty breathing. If the newborn has any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention. The doctor will most likely use an X-ray when making a diagnosis.

In , researchers reported that chest radiography is essential in determining the cause of respiratory distress in newborns. Below, we describe other severe issues that can cause newborns to grunt. If a newborn has any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention right away.

They may require emergency treatment. In addition to grunting, symptoms of meningitis in a newborn can include:. Sepsis is commonly described as blood poisoning.

In addition to grunting, symptoms in a newborn can include:. In addition to grunting, symptoms of heart failure in a newborn can include:. The grunting is usually not a cause for concern. However, if it accompanies certain symptoms, the grunting can indicate an underlying condition.

Grunting at the end of every breath is a sign of respiratory distress. It sounds like this. Call your doctor right away if you notice these symptoms. As you get to know your baby, you will learn to decode his many grunts. You'll decipher whether the grunt is from pooping, passing gas, or perhaps just a grunt to express that he's content. And as he gets older, his body learns how to master digestion, and how to make bowel movements and pass gas without much effort — and grunt-free.

Video production by Paige Bierma. Join now to personalize. Show transcript BabyCenter presents Why do babies grunt so much? Medically reviewed by Dawn Rosenberg, M. Next in this series 10 See all BabyCenter videos. When can I take my newborn outside? How to pick up and put down a baby. Why do babies grunt so much? How to help your newborn sleep safely.

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This could make them more willing to try new things…. Homemade baby food recipes offer a host of benefits the jarred stuff doesn't have. Here are five recipes anyone…. And the community is stronger than ever before…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M. Causes Treatments When to seek help Takeaway Is it normal? The cause of newborn grunting.

The remedies. When to be concerned. Other signs of respiratory problems include: blue tongue or skin weight loss fever lethargy nasal flaring pauses in breathing. The takeaway. And treat grunting with every breath as a medical emergency. Parenthood Baby 06 Months.