# Newborn Breathing Sounds, Sneezing and Stuffy Noses: What's Normal

> Why newborns snort, sneeze and pause while breathing, how to clear a stuffy nose, and signs of working too hard to breathe.

Stage: newborn - Topic: Health - Page: https://www.askcladle.com/guides/newborn/newborn-breathing-sounds-sneezing-and-congestion

Grounded in: AAP HealthyChildren newborn guidance on breathing, sneezing and noisy breathing, and AAP information on laryngomalacia. Summarized in Cradle's own words; none of these sources endorse Cradle. General information, not medical advice.

Reviewed: 2026-11

## TLDR

- Sneezing, snorting and pauses of up to about 10 seconds are usually normal; newborns breathe 30-60 times a minute.
- For a stuffy nose: saline drops, then gentle suction, before feeds and sleep only.
- Call right away for fast breathing over 60, ribs pulling in, flaring or grunting. Blue lips or stopped breathing means 911.

## Why newborns sound so noisy

- Babies breathe mainly through tiny noses, so a little milk, mucus or dry air makes a lot of noise.
- Normal breathing rate for a newborn is about 30-60 breaths a minute while calm, faster than an
  adult and faster again when crying or feeding.
- Many new parents lie awake listening. That is normal, and most sounds are harmless.

## Sounds that are usually normal

- Sneezing, often many times in a row. It clears the nose and is rarely a cold.
- Snorting, snuffling and whistling through the nose, especially after feeds.
- Periodic breathing: a few quick breaths, then a pause of up to about 10 seconds, then normal
  breathing again. Most common in deep sleep and in premature babies. It fades over the first months.
- Grunting and straining while passing stool or gas, then settling.
- Hiccups (see the hiccups and spit-up guide).
- Rattly chest sounds that change when the baby coughs or swallows. Usually mucus or milk at the
  back of the throat, not in the lungs.

## Floppy airway (laryngomalacia)

- A high, squeaky sound when breathing in, worse on the back, when feeding, crying or excited.
- It comes from soft tissue above the voice box and is the most common cause of noisy breathing in
  babies. It often gets louder for a few months, then fades, usually by 12-18 months.
- Most babies need nothing but checkups. Mention it so the pediatrician can watch growth and feeding.

## Easing a stuffy nose

1. Put 1-2 drops of saline in each nostril.
2. Wait a few seconds, then suction gently with a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator.
3. Do it before feeds and sleep, not every hour; too much suction irritates the nose.
- A cool-mist humidifier helps in dry rooms. Clean it daily.
- Keep the baby away from smoke, vaping and strong scents.
- More on illness itself is in the stuffy nose and colds guide.

## Signs of working too hard to breathe

- Breathing faster than about 60 breaths a minute, steadily, while calm.
- Skin sucking in between or under the ribs, or above the collarbone, with each breath.
- Nostrils flaring, head bobbing, or a grunt at the end of every breath.
- Pauses longer than about 20 seconds, or a pause with color change.
- Too breathless to feed.

## When to check in

- Bring up squeaky breathing, frequent rattling, or noisy breathing that bothers you at the next
  checkup. A short video of the sound helps a lot.
- Any of the working-hard signs above, or a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher under 3 months, needs a
  call to the pediatrician right away.
- If your baby's lips or face turn blue or gray, or they stop breathing, call 911.