Do Newborns Snore? | Normal Or Not

New babies make a lot of noise while they sleep. Snorts, squeaks, and soft snores can all show up in the first weeks. Tiny noses, narrow airways, and extra soft throat tissue make airflow loud. Most of the time, that noise is harmless and fades as the airway stiffens with age.

Newborn Sleep Sounds At A Glance

This quick guide helps you tell common sounds apart and shows simple steps you can try at home.

Sound	What It Usually Is	What To Do
Soft snoring during sleep	Nasal stuffiness or vibration of soft tissue in the nose or throat	Use saline drops, gentle bulb suction if needed, and keep sleep space flat and clear
Low, snore-like “stertor” when awake	Nasal blockage from mucus or dry air	Run a cool-mist humidifier nearby; offer feeds upright and burp well
High-pitched squeak on inhale (stridor)	Floppy tissue above the voice box (laryngomalacia) or another upper airway issue	Record a clip and call your doctor if frequent, loud, or paired with feeding trouble
Wet gurgle	Secretions pooling in the throat	Place baby on the back, tilt the head slightly to the side, and pause feeds to burp
Short pauses under 10 seconds	Normal periodic breathing in young infants	Watch calmly; the pattern should restart on its own without effort
Long pause, limpness, or blue lips	Possible apnea or low oxygen	Seek urgent care now

One common cause of a squeaky inhale in babies is called laryngomalacia. It comes from soft tissue above the voice box falling inward during a breath in. The sound can rise when the baby cries, feeds, or lies on the back. Most cases are mild and settle over months. Read more from the American Academy of Pediatrics on laryngomalacia and stridor.

Do Newborns Snore At Night? Clear Signs And Soothing Steps

Yes, night snoring can happen. Newborns breathe through the nose most of the time, so even a small clog can buzz. Dry rooms and leftover birth fluids add to the sound track. If your baby feeds well, looks pink, and sleeps fine between sounds, that soft snore is usually nothing to worry about.

Simple Home Care For Mild Snoring

• Use two drops of sterile saline in each nostril before a feed, then use a bulb syringe if mucus pools near the tip of the nose.
• Hold your baby upright on your chest for a few minutes after feeds to help clear the nose and throat.
• Run a cool-mist humidifier in the room to add gentle moisture.
• Keep the crib or bassinet flat, firm, and free of pillows, bumpers, and soft toys.
• Offer smaller, more frequent feeds if stuffiness makes long feeds tiring.
• Schedule supervised tummy time when awake to help with gas and muscle tone.

When Snoring Points To Trouble

Snoring moves from a nuisance to a warning when it comes with labored breathing or poor feeding. Watch for the signs below and seek help fast if any appear.

• Pauses in breathing longer than about 20 seconds, or shorter pauses with limpness or color change.
• Chest pulls in between the ribs, fast breathing, or flaring nostrils.
• Blue or gray tone around the lips or tongue.
• Poor weight gain, weak suck, or tiring during feeds.
• Frequent choking, coughing, or gagging during sleep.
• Noisy breathing while awake that does not settle when calm.

Snoring Versus Other Noisy Breathing

Not every noise is snoring. A few quick labels make sorting sounds much easier:

Snoring

A low, rough sound made as air vibrates relaxed tissue in the nose or throat. It tends to appear in deep sleep and fade with a gentle position change.

Stertor

A low snuffle from nasal blockage. It can show up awake or asleep and often eases after saline drops or a sneeze.

Stridor

A high-pitched squeak on inhale. In babies, soft tissue above the voice box is a common reason. Call your doctor if loud, frequent, or paired with poor weight gain.

Wheeze

A musical whistle from the chest, usually on exhale. This needs a check, since it can mean lower airway narrowing.

What Makes Newborn Snoring More Likely

A few common settings bring on noise:

• Dry air. Heaters pull moisture from the room, which thickens nasal mucus.
• Recent colds. A little swelling and extra secretions can turn quiet sleep into a snore fest.
• Reflux. Milk that washes back can irritate the throat and nose.
• Bottle or breast position. If the neck bends forward, airflow may narrow.
• Secondhand smoke. Irritates the airway lining and boosts congestion.

Safe Sleep While You Sort Out Snoring

Good sleep setup keeps breathing as easy as possible. Place your baby on the back for every sleep on a firm, flat surface. Share a room, not a bed, for at least the first six months. Keep loose blankets, bumpers, and plush items out of the crib. These steps come from the AAP safe sleep guidance.

Could It Be Sleep Apnea?

True obstructive sleep apnea is rare in brand-new infants outside of special settings. Warning signs include long pauses, labored breathing, or poor growth, not just soft snoring. Doctors use history, a full exam, pulse oximetry, and sometimes a sleep study to sort this out. If your baby stops breathing, looks blue, or goes limp, seek emergency care. If worry lingers, book a visit and bring your recordings and notes.

What Doctors Check If Snoring Sticks Around

A pediatric exam looks from nose to chest. The doctor checks nasal openings, tongue and jaw size, palate shape, and neck posture. They listen for stridor, wheeze, or crackles. If upper airway noise persists, an ear, nose, and throat specialist may pass a tiny scope through the nose to view the voice box for laryngomalacia or other narrowing. If growth or oxygen levels raise concern, a sleep study can map airflow and breathing patterns overnight.

Care Paths You Might Hear About

Plans match the cause and the baby:

• Nasal care. Saline, brief suction at the nostril tip, and time.
• Position tweaks. Keep the mattress flat; avoid car seat naps as a habit, since the chin can drop toward the chest.
• Feeding changes. Slower flow nipples or paced feeds if coughing shows up.
• Reflux care. Smaller feeds and upright holds after meals; medicine is rarely needed this young.
• ENT follow-up. For stridor, poor weight gain, or frequent color change.

Red Flags And Next Steps

Use this quick guide while you wait for care or plan a checkup.

Sign	What It May Mean	Action
Breathing pause around 20 seconds or more	Possible apnea	Call emergency services
Blue lips, gray tone, or limpness	Low oxygen	Call emergency services
High-pitched squeak on most inhales	Upper airway noise like laryngomalacia	See your pediatrician; ask about ENT review
Hard work to breathe or fast rates	Respiratory distress	Same day care
Poor feeds or slow weight gain	Breathing effort or airway narrowing	See your pediatrician
Soft snore with normal color and easy sleep	Likely benign nasal sound	Try home care and watch

How To Tell If It’s Nose Or Throat

A few small checks can point you to the source. Watch your baby on the back with the lights on. If noise fades after a sneeze or a quick saline rinse, the nose is the likely source. A squeak on inhale points above the voice box. If a gentle head roll to the neutral “sniffing” position softens the sound, posture helped. If a pacifier steadies the tongue and the snore drops, the tongue base played a role.

Video tells the story fast. Record one minute from the crib side, then another during a feed. Share both with your doctor; timing in the breath, chest motion, and color are easy to review.

Sample Night Plan For A Snory Newborn

Here’s a plain routine. Run a cool-mist humidifier. Place two saline drops per nostril, wait a minute, then suction right at the opening if needed. Offer an upright feed, burp halfway and at the end, hold upright for five minutes, then place on the back in a clear, flat crib. If a soft snore shows up but color and effort look normal, let sleep roll. If noise grows or effort appears, pick up, clear the nose again, and reassess.

During colds, expect louder nights. Keep feeds short, add an extra burp, watch diapers and alertness. Call your pediatrician for fever under three months, fewer wet diapers, or if nose care fails.

Practical Tips That Help Many Families

• Rinse the bulb syringe with hot water after each use and let it air dry.
• Place the humidifier across the room, clean the tank daily, and empty any standing water.
• During a cold, raise the head of the mattress only if your crib maker supplies an approved wedge that keeps the surface flat; never use loose pillows under the head.
• Limit strong scents and smoke around the baby to cut nasal swelling.
• Keep a short sleep and feeding log if snoring seems linked to a pattern; bring it to the visit.
• Record audio or video of the noise on your phone to share at the appointment.

Takeaway On Newborn Snoring

Quiet, soft snoring in a pink, relaxed baby is common in the early weeks and usually fades. Noisy breathing with long pauses, hard work, color change, or feeding trouble needs prompt care. Trust your instincts, use simple daily nose care, follow safe sleep steps, and loop in your doctor if anything seems off.