4 Wk Old Constantly Grunting and Groaning While Asleep

Updated on May 17, 2011
S.K. asks from Denton, TX
10 answers

My 4 wk old daughter constantly grunts and groans while asleep. She is sleeping in our room and, needless to say, it is very hard to sleep next to!! She isn't really crying, just constantly grunting and kinda straining. She was breastfed up until recently, but she has done this since she was about a week old (acted the same while breastfed/formula fed). And, she is a pooping machine, so I don't think she is constipated or anything. She isn't spitting up, either, so don't know if it could be a sensitive tummy. She does seem really gassy all the time. Talked with pedi already and put her on reflux meds. Not making much difference. We have started sleeping her in her car seat at night, and it seems to help a little. Any of you mamas ever had a kiddo like this? Any recommendations?
This is not just sweet, little noises while she's sleeping. This is loud, forceful, straining, hear it in the next room, kind of noises.
Also, this is my 2nd child. My son was a refluxer, but never did this, so it's new to me.

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M.T.

answers from Dallas on

sounds normal to me. Both my sons were loud grunters. It went away the older they got. I say -enjoy the little baby noises b/c they grow up so fast! My youngest is 3 months and he hardly ever does the grunting anymore.

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L.A.

answers from New York on

Our little one was like this. he's our only, so I can't tell if its typical. we tried mylicon, and sitting him propped to sleep, it didn't really help. My cutting back on dairy while b/feeding seemed to make real difference. Also, we switched formulas and that seemed to help too.

He's now 7 months old, and is still a rather noisy sleeper. The gas has largely resolved. Since the noisiness doesn't seem to bother him, it no longer bothers us.

We have him in his own crib, in his own room. No baby monitor for us. He's close enough that we hear when he wakes up and turns on his mobile. He's far enough away that my sleep isn't disturbed by the little groans and grunts.

Good luck and glad to hear that you've got your ped involved.

1 mom found this helpful

L.C.

answers from Dallas on

She sounds like a normal baby to me! They just make sounds like that. I would try burping her a little harder for a little longer before you put her down. It could be gas but it could also just be her. She might she be a grunting sleeper.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from San Francisco on

I have a 9 week old and and an almost 4 year old. Both of them seemed to be noisy sleepers at this age. I mentioned this to my pediatrician and she said it was totally normal. It could be gas, but if she's not crying or fussing it could just be the way she sleeps. Our doctor said that newborns aren't able to breathe out of the mouths this early, only their nose, so they're loud breathers by nature. Good luck and congrats on your new baby!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Congrats on the new baby! SOme kids are just noisy sleepers. If she is sleeping ok through all of the grunting, I would just move her to another room so you can sleep. You can even get one of those sids monitors if that makes you feel better about her not being in your room. Believe me, if it goes off it will wake you up.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

My granddaughter is now 6 weeks old and has done this since she was born. My daughter said she is gradually getting used to it and tuning it out tho it still interrupts her sleep some.

My granddaughter is also gassy. My daughter, who is breast feeding, has made some changes in her diet which has helped and gives her "gas" drops. She is careful to always get a burp out of her before laying her down.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Dallas on

My son did the exact same thing and I did all that you have done (minus reflux meds). What actually worked for me was putting him on his belly. He was able to turn his head early and he slept in our room so I watched after him. I know you aren't supposed to do it, but he stopped immediately and slept so much better. I am a nurse, and I know I should know better, but it really was best for everybody. My son wouldn't even take naps until I put him on his belly. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.K.

answers from Dallas on

Hi There. We had this same issue with my little girl. I was BFing at the time. So, for her nighttime feeding, I switched her to Similac Sensitive (the orange container). It is for lactose sensitivity. I also gave her mylicon with her nighttime feeding. Doing both of these things helped out a ton with her nighly sleep! In fact, it helped so much, that after two weeks I though her problems were gone and I went back to BF at night... but then the problem came back. So, once we went back to the Similac Sensative, we were back on track. Another thing that is helpful with their digestive systems is giving a Probiotic. My Ped actually suggested this because of her lactose sensitivity. At the time, I wanted to continue to bf, but it was causing her a ton of gas. The Probiotic helped with that. They sell the "kids" probiotic at Target and my ped said it was safe for babies. One packet a day mixed in a bottle.

It's all about figuring out which combination works for you. We did all three - Similac Sensitive, Mylicon, and probiotic. Problems completely disappeared. Hope that helps!

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Hartford on

Babies are noisy sleepers. All of my daughters did this throughout the newborn stage. Every baby I've ever known has done it. It's normal.

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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Babies are noisy sleepers. I would NOT put her to bed on her stomach - the risk of SIDS is much much higher in infants sleeping prone than infants put to bed on their backs. The side sleeping incidence is higher than back sleeping but lower than prone.

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