Is it normal for babies to be loud sleepers?
We have allll heard the term “sleeping like a baby”, right? What that quaint little phrase fails to convey is how much action is really happening at 5 o’clock in the morning! When I brought my first-born home from the hospital, I was totally unprepared for how much noise my tiny little baby would be making in his sleep. Read on if this is you, too!
Newborn Sleep Cycles
Newborns cycle between two sleep stages:
active (REM) sleep
quiet (non REM) sleep.
In the beginning, their time sleeping is split about 50/50 between those two stages. During active REM sleep, they are more easily awoken, and do not experience muscle paralysis as adults do during REM. Therefore, young babies are extremely active and noisy during REM sleep. A young baby may laugh, suck, or even cry out (possibly quite loudly) all while staying asleep.
(This is also why babies “practice” gross motor skills when they are sleeping!)
Farmyard hour and gas are two other reasons why your newborn might be exceptionally noisy during sleep. Newborns have an immature digestive system, and it “turns on” in the early morning hours (4 am wake up call anyone??). Babies also have a more difficult time passing gas, due to weak core muscles and not being very coordinated yet. This results in your baby making a LOT of noises like grunting, growling, squeaking, and squawking! As well as a lot of flailing and kicking around, and breaking out of their swaddle. It may seem impossible, but a lot of these shenanigans happen all while your baby is still fast asleep. This “extra-ness” all in the name of digestion usually passes once their gut matures and becomes more efficient around 12 weeks.
Newborns breathe through their noses primarily. Their nasal passages are so tiny, that any small obstruction can make their breathing sound much louder. A little bitty booger or congestion in the nasal passages is another reason why your baby may be such a noisy sleeper. Some babies may have laryngomalacia- a floppy airway that causes loud breathing sounds, especially when laying flat on their back (*note, putting your baby on their back to sleep is still considered the safest position. Even though their breathing is louder, it does not necessarily mean they are struggling to breathe). Laryngomalacia is very common, and typically resolves by the time a baby is one year old. However, it is always a good idea to consult with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s breathing!
Some helpful tips:
Burp well after feeds
Practice “the pause” before going to them when they are being noisy- chances are that your baby is still actually sleeping! Read more about “the pause”!
White noise can help them transition to quiet sleep, and help YOU stay asleep by providing a sound buffer
Offer a pacifier (sucking can help to relax the digestive tract)
Holding upright after night time feeds and during the farmyard hour if they are very uncomfortable
Incorporate 5-10 minutes infant tummy massage after bathtime
Tummy time during the day to help strengthen baby’s core
Nasal hygiene for congestion
Is it normal for babies to be loud sleepers?
As time passes all these little noises will start to subside as your baby becomes more efficient at digestion and their core becomes stronger. Usually by about 12 weeks the “farmyard hour” has passed its time. At 6 months of age, babies are only spending about 30% of their time asleep in the active REM stage (versus 50%). Both of these things will make a significant difference.
How to sleep with a loud newborn?
White noise is your friend, too! Not only is it great for your baby, but it’s also a sound buffer for YOU to block out every little squeak and grunt that they make. You will still be able to hear them if they cry. If you are especially sensitive to being woken up and your partner sleeps like a log you might try putting the baby on your partner’s side of the bed. And lastly, you can choose to move the baby to their own room.*
*I do want to mention that the AAP recommends room sharing as an added protective measure against SIDS for ideally the first 6 months of life. Here’s more information about the updated safe sleep guidelines, including a breakdown of the room sharing recommendation!
When do I intervene for a loud sleeper?
With night wakings, I recommend practicing “the pause” before going to your baby. This gives you a chance to listen to and observe your baby to evaluate if they are actually signaling a need to you. They may be noisy while changing sleep cycles or adjusting their sleeping position. Practicing the pause gives them time to resettle without unnecessary assistance. How long you pause depends on your comfort level, and how quickly your baby escalates. It could be 1-2 minutes, or 5-10, but what really matters is that you are giving them space to work things out for themselves, and then responding calmly, appropriately, and in a supportive manner. This is important for building a secure attachment, as well as for co-regulation!
