In this blog, I’ll shed light on the shocking fact that our cute little newborns actually sound like disgruntled old men when they sleep!!

I’ll also talk through the importance of room sharing with these noisy newborns and the warning signs of when these grunts and squirms need further investigation.

As always, these blogs are not medical advice. I urge parents to trust their instincts—if you want to have your newborn reviewed by a doctor or maternal nurse, never hesitate.

Most parents are shocked to find out newborn sleep is NOT quiet

Quite the contrary—healthy newborns grunt and squirm. They are noisy little things! The term “sleeping like a baby” was not coined by someone who has actually slept next to a newborn baby.

If you're navigating those early weeks, you may also find my blog on Baby's First 24 Hours: What to Expect After Baby is Born helpful, as it explains many of the normal behaviours new parents experience during the newborn period.

There are lots of reasons that are no cause for concern that babies grunt and squirm. The 4 key ones are:

• Reason 1: Inadequate burping or winding
• Reason 2: Active sleep
• Reason 3: Getting their muscles coordinated to poo (although this can still be distressing)
• Reason 4: Nose breathing and narrow nasal passages

Reason 1: Inadequate burping or winding

If you’re enrolled in my sleep programs or followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m passionate about winding and burping ALL babies. In my clinical experience, it’s the number one cause of unsettled behaviour.

Trapped wind can cause babies to grunt, gurgle, squirm, arch their backs, and cry out in pain. If this sounds like your baby, sign up for my baby sleep programs and try out the Dr Golly active winding technique.

You can also read my blog on It's All About Wind: Burp, Burp, Burp where I explain why trapped wind is one of the most common causes of unsettled newborn behaviour.

Reason 2: Newborns can be noisy during active sleep

Newborns spend about half their sleep cycle in what we call “active sleep.” It’s really important for your baby’s brain development.

Active sleep is similar to REM sleep (rapid eye movement) for adults, but your baby isn’t paralysed like we are. During active sleep, the newborn may move, whimper, groan, open their eyes, cry out, or breathe noisily or irregularly. Newborn grunting and squirming while sleeping is very common—lots of parents accidentally wake their baby during this phase as they think they have woken up.

Understanding the difference between active sleep and your baby genuinely waking is one of the biggest factors in helping babies learn to connect their sleep cycles. I cover this in much more detail throughout my Baby Sleep Programs.

Conversely, during quiet sleep (the other half of their sleep cycles), they go into a deep sleep. They will lie relatively still, and their breathing will even out.

If your baby is waking frequently overnight, you may also like my blog on How to Get Baby to Sleep Through the Night, where I explain how newborn sleep cycles develop over time.

🎥 WATCH: the difference between Quiet Sleep and Active Sleep 

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Reason 3: Your baby hasn’t learnt how to coordinate the muscles to poo

This is called infant dyschezia and is often referred to as “grunting baby syndrome.”

Infants with dyschezia appear to have difficulty pooping. They might strain, grunt, or cry for 10 to 30 minutes before they poo, but when they do eventually have a bowel movement, the stool is soft and normal.

This is a muscle coordination problem, requiring the necessary abdominal pressure to pass a poo. It can be upsetting for both baby and parents when this happens, as the baby is in obvious discomfort trying to get the poo out. Most don’t take long to learn this new skill, and it usually resolves on its own in a few weeks.

How to help a baby with infant dyschezia

You can help them focus their attention on their bottom (anus) by using the spike of a twisted tissue to ‘tickle’ their anus while they try to push.

Dyschezia vs constipation: It’s often mistaken

Parents of babies with infant dyschezia often mistake it for constipation. It’s fair enough—you see your baby straining to poo and assume that’s because the poo is too hard to pass.

Not being able to coordinate the muscles to poo and the associated straining looks the same as straining against hard poo.

…But you can tell what the problem is once the poo comes out. If the poo is hard or bloody, that’s a sign of constipation. If the poop looks normal and soft, constipation isn’t the problem.

If the poos are hard and your baby is constipated, please see my constipation blog: Foods that cause and relieve constipation in babies.

Constipation can sometimes also contribute to unsettled sleep, feeding difficulties and increased fussiness, making it well worth addressing early.

Reason 4: Grunting from nose breathing and narrow nasal passages

Most parents are shocked that babies don’t breathe through their mouths until they are closer to 12 months. That’s why newborn nasal congestion can be really concerning, especially when it impacts feeding at the breast or bottle.

Because of this and their tiny nasal passages, their breathing is impacted really quickly by any mucus or congestion. This snorting and gurgling can be cause for concern and also incredibly distressing for parents.

How to help a congested baby breathe and sleep easier

I’m incredibly passionate about snot-sucking (using an aspirator to clear your baby’s mucus) and relieving nasal congestion for babies. They can’t do it themselves, and it’s our job as parents to help them out.

For more practical tips, read my guide on Newborn Congestion – How To Help a Congested Baby Sleep & Feed, where I cover safe ways to clear your baby's nose and make feeding and sleep much easier. 

When is newborn grunting cause for concern?

While most grunting and squirming is completely normal and expected, there are times when you’ll need to act and seek medical advice. Deciphering them is the key.

There are times when a grunt or a gurgle signals something more serious. Keep an eye and ear out for changes in breathing patterns:

• Breathing faster than usual, noisy breathing, or increased work of breathing
• Retractions: When the area between the ribs or below the neck sucks in when a child tries to inhale.
• Nasal flaring: The nostrils widen with each in-breath.
• Grunting: A grunt sound occurs with each out-breath.
• Head-bobbing: The head may bob up and down with each breath.
• Paradoxical breathing: The chest and abdomen may move in opposite directions.
• Abnormal breath sounds like wheezing, whistling, or high-pitched squeaks (stridor).

If you are ever concerned about your child’s breathing, seek medical attention.

When your baby’s grunting keeps you awake

I’m a proud Red Nose Safe Sleep Ambassador – aligned with Red Nose Australia and the American Academy of Pediatrics I recommend room sharing for at least the first 6 months of life. As we’ve been discussing, our babies are noisy and it can be hard to sleep with a noisy little one squirming in the bassinet next to you. The great news is the solution will help you and your baby sleep better! ….One of my key recommendations for setting up a great sleep environment for babies is white noise. This won’t stop your responsiveness to your child’s needs or cries but it’ll help you if you’re sensitive to the little noises they make. 

Creating the right sleep environment from day one can make a significant difference to everyone's sleep. You can find more newborn sleep tips in my Free Sleep Tips and, if you're ready for a step-by-step approach, my Little Baby Sleep Program (4–16 Weeks) walks you through establishing healthy sleep habits from the very beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Newborn Grunting and Squirming in Sleep:

FAQ 1: Is it normal for my newborn to grunt and squirm while sleeping?

Yes, newborn grunting and squirming while sleeping is usually completely normal. Most healthy newborns are surprisingly noisy sleepers because they spend around half of their sleep in active sleep, a stage where they naturally grunt, twitch, stretch, sigh, smile and even briefly cry out without actually waking up. They also have immature digestive systems and tiny nasal passages, both of which can contribute to noisy sleep. As long as your baby is feeding well, gaining weight and breathing comfortably, newborn grunting during sleep is usually nothing to worry about.

FAQ 2: Why does my newborn grunt so much at night?

There are four common reasons why a newborn grunts at night:

• Trapped wind after feeding
• Active sleep
• Learning how to coordinate the muscles needed to poo (infant dyschezia)
• Narrow nasal passages causing noisy breathing

These are all common parts of newborn development and usually improve naturally as your baby grows.

FAQ 3: Should I pick my baby up when they grunt in their sleep?

Usually, no.

Many babies grunt, wriggle and even briefly cry out while they remain asleep during active sleep. If your baby's eyes are closed and they aren't crying properly, it's often best to wait and observe before picking them up. Intervening too quickly can accidentally wake a baby who would otherwise have settled back into deep sleep on their own.

FAQ 4: How long does newborn grunting last?

For most babies, newborn grunting gradually improves over the first few weeks and months of life.

Grunting caused by active sleep often becomes less noticeable as sleep cycles mature, while grunting related to digestion or infant dyschezia usually settles once babies learn to coordinate their abdominal and pelvic muscles.

Most parents notice significant improvement by around 8–12 weeks, although every baby develops differently.

FAQ 5: Why does my newborn grunt after feeding?

A newborn grunting after feeding is often caused by trapped wind. During feeds, babies swallow air along with milk. If this air isn't burped out, it can create pressure in the stomach, leading to grunting, squirming, arching the back and discomfort.

Using an effective winding technique after every feed can often reduce these symptoms considerably.

FAQ 6: What is infant dyschezia (grunting baby syndrome)?

Infant dyschezia is a temporary condition where babies haven't yet learnt how to coordinate the muscles needed to pass a bowel motion.

Babies may grunt, strain and cry for several minutes before producing a completely soft, normal poo. Although it looks distressing, it isn't constipation and usually resolves without treatment as babies mature.

FAQ 7: When is newborn grunting a sign something is wrong?

While newborn grunting is usually normal, it can occasionally indicate breathing difficulties.

Seek urgent medical attention if your baby is:

• Grunting with every breath
• Breathing rapidly
• Flaring their nostrils
• Pulling in under their ribs or neck while breathing
• Appearing blue or pale
• Feeding poorly
• Difficult to wake

These symptoms require prompt medical assessment.

FAQ 8: Can newborn congestion cause grunting?

Yes.

Newborns breathe almost exclusively through their noses during the first months of life. Even small amounts of mucus can make breathing sound noisy, leading to grunting, snorting, snuffling and gurgling during sleep.

Keeping your baby's nose clear with an appropriate nasal aspirator can help improve both feeding and sleep.

FAQ 9: Why is my newborn so noisy when sleeping?

Many parents expect newborns to sleep peacefully, but the opposite is usually true.

Normal newborn sleep noises include:

• Grunting
• Squeaking
• Snorting
• Gurgling
• Sighing
• Whimpering
• Stretching
• Brief cries

These noises are usually caused by active sleep, immature digestion and developing airways, and are a normal part of early infancy.

FAQ 10: Can white noise help with a grunting newborn?

While white noise won't stop newborn grunting, it can help parents sleep more soundly while remaining responsive to genuine cries.

When used safely and at an appropriate volume, white noise creates a consistent sleep environment that masks the smaller grunts, squeaks and wriggles babies naturally make during active sleep.

If your newborn's grunting and squirming has you second guessing what's normal, you're certainly not alone. Those early weeks can feel overwhelming, especially when you're running on very little sleep. My Little Baby Sleep Program is designed to help you understand your baby's sleep, feeding and settling, so you can feel confident knowing what's normal and when to step in. If you're looking for practical, evidence-informed guidance to help you and your baby get the best possible start, I'd love to support you along the way.