Checking your baby’s breathing at night

Often new parents find themselves checking their baby’s breathing during the night. This is absolutely normal and nothing to be embarrassed about.

However, if you’re constantly checking and worrying to the point that you can’t relax speak to your pediatrician for reassurance, as being overanxious can make life very difficult for you at this demanding time.

If you’re worried about SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome, also known as crib death) then you should have a look at creating a safe sleep environment for babies. This should help you feel a little more in control of your baby’s wellbeing.

What your baby’s breathing should sound like

It can be hard to even hear a newborn breathing, as it’s so light. Your baby’s breathing isn’t consistent: it’ll switch between rapid and slow. She may even pause for a few seconds without breathing, which to the uninitiated ear can be quite alarming. These different breathing patterns are all absolutely normal and nothing to be concerned about. The slightly erratic style of breathing will change as your baby matures and her lungs grow stronger. Until then her breathing may sound shallow.

What isn’t normal breathing for a baby

Most breathing difficulties arise because your baby has developed some sort of infection – if you think this may be the case, contact your pediatrician, as any infection could potentially be serious. If you’re in any doubt whatsoever it’s always better to be overly cautious.

If your baby’s breathing is labored (she is having trouble taking breaths and you can see her ribs drawing quickly inwards) get medical advice immediately – your baby has very narrow airways and it’s important she’s assessed at once. Call 911 if her lips turn blue.

Why not chat to other moms about this, or other topics, by leaving a message on our chat forum. Alternately, if you want to meet other moms in your area with similar age babies, visit our people section to find out what’s happening in your area. If you have any unanswered questions, use our questions page to gain wisdom from other moms or our resident experts for all those pregnancy or baby-related niggles. Have a look at our kit section where we list our favorite baby gear.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: 19/06/2007

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