Sleeping similar a babe isn't always every bit peaceful equally it sounds. Babies oftentimes moan, groan, and whimper in their sleep, which can be disconcerting to new parents, fifty-fifty though it's pretty normal. But sometimes a baby's slumber behaviors can indicate a more serious problem.

Your baby pauses between breaths

You've probably noticed your babe's breathing rhythm changes as she sleeps. She might exhale rapidly at showtime, then more than slowly, before pausing for v to 10 seconds and resuming rapid breathing, and so on. Doctors call this "periodic breathing," and it's common in babies until they're about vi months sometime. Your baby's animate may follow this blueprint upwards to 5 pct of the time she'due south asleep, says Gary E. Freed, professor of pediatrics and director of the Children's Apnea Center at Emory University School of Medicine.

Possible cause for business organisation: Some infants experience central sleep apnea, which causes them to terminate animate for up to twenty seconds. These episodes are normal and may be due to an immature encephalon stem, which regulates breathing. But if pauses final longer than 20 seconds, your child's medico may desire to examine your infant and refer her to a specialist for evaluation. In most cases, a baby's irregular breathing is nothing to worry about.

It'south also non unusual for a newborn's hands and feet to announced blueish at times – it can happen if your baby is crying or coughing, or if she's a chip cold. But if your babe's forehead, tongue, nails, lips, or the torso of her body seems persistently blue, she may be having problem getting enough oxygen.

What to practise about information technology: Putting your baby to sleep on her dorsum is the unmarried most helpful thing you can practise to help her breathe easily. Only if your baby stops animate, touch on or nudge her gently to come across whether she responds. If she doesn't respond, she needs help immediately.

If your baby stops breathing and you tin't wake her up, start administering infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) right away and ask someone to call 911 for help. If you're alone, call 911 yourself later on two minutes of CPR and and so resume CPR until help arrives or your infant starts breathing again.

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Your infant snores and snorts

If your babe occasionally snores or makes snorting sounds while he's sleeping, information technology's probably cypher to worry almost. Many babies snore when they have a stuffy nose, and stuffy noses are common during the commencement few weeks of life. If your babe has a cold, try a vaporizer or humidifier to make animate more comfortable.

Possible cause for concern: Persistent snoring tin sometimes indicate a problem.

What to do nigh it: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you e'er mention your baby'south snoring to his doc, just to be on the rubber side. Your infant's doctor tin bank check for issues and may refer yous to a specialist, such equally an ear, nose, and throat doctor or a sleep specialist, to come across if testing or treatment is necessary.

Your baby sweats – a lot

Some babies sweat profusely during the deepest part of their nightly slumber cycle and stop upwards soaking wet. Considering babies spend much more than time in this deepest stage of slumber, they're more likely to sweat during the night than adults or fifty-fifty older children.

Possible crusade for concern: Sweating is very mutual, but excessive sweating could mean that something isn't right. For example, excessive sweating – particularly when eating – tin can be a sign of congenital heart illness as well as various infections and sleep apnea. Overheating is also a hazard cistron for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

What to do about it: The room your babe sleeps in should be warm but not hot. Set the room temperature to a range that feels comfortable to a lightly clothed adult. Clothes your babe in the amount of clothing that you'd be comfy sleeping in without covers. Resist the urge to bundle her upwards and go along blankets, quilts, and comforters out of her crib.

As a rule of pollex, remember that if yous're likewise hot, your baby probably is likewise. If the house is cool and your baby is dressed lightly and still sweating, talk with her doctor.

Your baby rocks his body

Many babies are soothed past rhythmic back-and-forth movements, such as the gentle motion of a rocking chair. Some babies will rock on all fours or fifty-fifty while sitting upwards. Body rocking starts at about 6 to 9 months old and may be accompanied past head banging or head rolling. It usually isn't a sign of any behavioral or emotional trouble.

What to do about information technology: It'southward best to take a depression-key approach to rocking. If your baby senses you're trying to finish the rocking, he may take information technology as a claiming and persist in the behavior. Move his crib abroad from the wall if the rocking is unusually loud. And tighten the screws and bolts on his crib regularly because all that motion may work them loose.

Your baby bangs her caput

Like rocking, caput banging is a mutual beliefs some babies use to condolement themselves. Strangely plenty, your infant may blindside her head to distract herself from hurting – if she's teething, for example, or has an ear infection. Head banging often starts after a baby turns six months former and may proceed for several months or even years, but near children outgrow it by age three or 4. It'south seldom a sign of any emotional or developmental issue.

Possible cause for concern: In rare instances, especially if your baby has developmental delays, it could signal a trouble.

What to do nearly information technology: Tell your physician most it, but to be safe. Tighten the screws and bolts on her crib regularly. And don't put pillows, bumpers, or blankets in the crib to cushion the blows – loose bedding raises the gamble of SIDS and bumpers can crusade serious injury.

Your baby grinds his teeth

More than half of babies grind their teeth, especially while asleep. Grinding tin occur at any historic period, only it's well-nigh common in babies who are getting their outset teeth (usually effectually 6 months). Although the sound may exist nerve-racking, the grinding probably won't hurt your baby'south teeth.

Possible cause for concern: Reasons for teeth grinding in babies can include the sensation of new teeth, pain (from an earache or teething, for example), and breathing problems, such as from a stuffy nose.

What to do about it: Mention it to his doctor and his dentist. (Your baby's commencement dentist visit should happen around the fourth dimension he turns one.) The doctor and dentist tin evaluate what's behind the grinding and check for damage to the tooth enamel. Few babies are such ardent grinders that they actually habiliment down their teeth.