Ask A Neonatologist: Noisy Breathing
Dr. Vitaliy Soloveychik
Latest posts by Dr. Vitaliy Soloveychik (see all)
- Ask a Neonatologist: Proper Nursery Conditions - August 6, 2015
- Ask A Neonatologist: Noisy Breathing - August 6, 2015
- Ask a Neonatologist: Feeding Your Baby - August 6, 2015
My baby’s breathing is sometimes noisy. Is this normal?
The noises your baby is making while breathing are most likely completely normal and are nothing to worry about. Babies are nose breathers, which allows them to nurse and breath at the same time but makes them noisy breathers if any piece of dried mucous or milk gets trapped in their nasal passage!
Since your baby does not know how to breathe through his or her mouth and is not able to blow his or her nose, any small blockage will create extra noises like whistling or snorts, that may concern a parent but in reality are harmless and normal.
If you’re concerned about your baby’s stuffed up nose, you can use a nasal suctioning device to carefully remove any mucous that may be there.
Although most sounds your baby is making while breathing are normal, if your baby makes a high pitched rasping sound while breathing or has a barking cough, take him or her to a pediatrician because they may have croup, a common childhood illness.
If your baby begins to breath very quickly, has flared nostrils, looks like they are working harder to breath or are turning blue, you should take your baby to the emergency room immediately.
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