Why does a baby grunt?

From newborns to toddlers, babies can growl at different times of the day and night. Some parents fear that these sounds are a sign that they need to be worried. The good news is that in most cases, your baby's growling is completely normal.

When should babies growl?

During sleep. From birth, babies make all sorts of sounds while they sleep. Their sleep is often restless. Your child may occasionally sleep soundly due to loud noises, but he may also be restless.

They may wake up multiple times or stay up almost overnight or during sleep. Growling is a normal sound your baby makes during sleep, along with gurgling, squealing, and snoring.

Most of these sounds are completely normal and do not indicate any health or breathing problems. To reduce your risk of breathing problems while you sleep, make sure:

Your baby's clothes are loose, but not too loose
Your baby is not too hot or cold
There is nothing in their crib but a fitted sheet
They are swaddled or in a warm sleeping garment, not warmed by blankets
Your baby is on their back
The crib mattress is firm, not soft.

If they are constipated. Babies often have little trouble going to the toilet. When you stand up, gravity helps the feces leave your body. Babies often lie flat, which can be more difficult for them. Your baby may growl and blush when trying to have a bowel movement.

How do you know if your child is constipated? If they have hard, pebble-like stools or if they cry every time they get their diaper dirty, they may be constipated. Never give your child laxatives or enemas except on the advice of a doctor. If your child is constipated, seek the advice of a pediatrician. They may advise you to give them more water or fruit juice.

If your child has constipation, fever, vomiting, blood in the stool, or bloating, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Mucus in the nose and nasal passages. Your child has a small nose and a small nasal passage. They mainly breathe through their nose because it makes feeding easier. Newborn babies also often have a lot of mucus. This is not due to illness, but simply because their respiratory system is still developing.

Their small nose or nasal passage becomes very easily clogged, leading to strange noises, coughing and sneezing. Help your child clear their nasal passages by wiping their nose, using a nasal aspirator, or rinsing their nose with saline designed for babies.

If your baby growls with every breath, see a doctor immediately.

Acid reflux. Some children suffer from acid reflux. This can cause gurgling and growling sounds during digestion. The muscles in your child's digestive system are still developing, so the muscle between the stomach and esophagus doesn't always stay closed properly. Many childhood behaviors, such as lying flat most of the time, contribute to this condition.

Most cases of childhood acid reflux are completely normal. Regurgitation is the result of this condition. Almost all babies spit up from time to time. Rarely, infantile reflux can be a sign of something more serious, especially when combined with any of the following symptoms: