Home » Blog » Breastfeeding » Why is my baby making noises while breastfeeding?

Why is my baby making noises while breastfeeding?

Understanding Your Baby’s Noises While Breastfeeding
As a new parent, the sounds your baby makes during breastfeeding can be both surprising and concerning. Many first-time parents are unprepared for the variety of noises that accompany nursing, which often go unmentioned in parenting literature. These sounds can range from squeaks and hums to clicks and coos, and they are generally a normal part of the breastfeeding experience.
Common Noises and Their Meanings
1. Squeaking and Humming: It’s not uncommon for babies to make squeaky or humming noises while nursing. These sounds can be a sign of contentment and satisfaction as your baby feeds. The act of breastfeeding stimulates various sensory responses, and the noises may simply reflect your baby’s enjoyment of the feeding process.
2. Clicking Sounds: If your baby is making clicking noises, it could indicate that they are not latching properly. This can happen if the baby is trying to latch onto the breast but is not creating a good seal. While this can be a normal occurrence, persistent clicking might lead to discomfort for both the baby and the mother, and it may be worth consulting a lactation expert for guidance.
3. Other Noises: Babies can also produce a range of other sounds, including grunts, snorts, and even moans. These noises are often just part of their natural behavior and can be attributed to the physical effort of sucking and swallowing. As they feed, babies may also express their feelings of comfort or distress through these sounds.
Why Do Babies Make Noises?
The noises your baby makes while breastfeeding can be attributed to several factors:
– Physical Effort: Breastfeeding requires coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing. As babies navigate this process, they may make various sounds that reflect their efforts.

– Sensory Feedback: The act of feeding is a sensory-rich experience for infants. The sounds they make can be a response to the sensations they are experiencing, including the taste of milk and the warmth of their mother’s body.
– Communication: Babies are also learning to communicate their needs and feelings. Noises can be a way for them to express satisfaction, discomfort, or even a desire to continue feeding.
When to Seek Help
While many noises are perfectly normal, there are instances when you might want to seek advice. If your baby seems to be in distress, is not gaining weight appropriately, or if the sounds are accompanied by signs of discomfort, it may be beneficial to consult with a healthcare professional or a lactation consultant. They can help assess the situation and provide support to ensure a comfortable feeding experience for both you and your baby.
In conclusion, the sounds your baby makes while breastfeeding are typically a normal part of the experience. Understanding these noises can help ease any concerns and enhance the bonding experience during feeding. Embrace this unique aspect of motherhood, and remember that each sound is a part of your baby’s journey in learning and growing.

Why does my baby have noisy breathing when breastfeeding?

Laryngomalacia is caused by floppy tissue falling over the larynx (voice box) and partially blocking the airway when a child breathes in. The sound from laryngomalacia is often a high-pitched squeak that often worsens when the baby is agitated, feeding, crying, or sleeping on his or her back.

Why is my baby wheezing while breastfeeding?

Baby wheezing: Why it happens. Wheezing or a high-pitched noise that comes from the chest during breathing is common in babies and children. There are various possible causes, including asthma, allergies, GERD, infections, and more. Between 25-30 percent of infants will experience at least one episode.

Why is my baby thrashing around while breastfeeding?

Overactive letdown (known medically as hyperlactation) can make it hard for a baby to keep up with the steady stream of milk. As a response, they may twist and tug to try and make the milk flow slow down or stop.

How to tell if baby is swallowing while nursing?

You can hear and see your baby swallowing. Your baby’s cheeks stay rounded, not hollow, during sucking. They seem calm and relaxed during feeds. Your baby comes off the breast on their own at the end of feeds.

Why does my baby make gasping noises while breastfeeding?

Most often, babies are choking and gasping at the breast because mom has a lot of milk and/or the flow of her milk is so fast that the baby struggles (just like adults can only handle guzzling so much of a drink rather than drinking it at a more reasonable pace).

Why is my baby grunting and squirming while breastfeeding?

Most of the time, your newborn’s gurgling noises and squirms seem so sweet and helpless. But when they grunt, you may begin to worry that they’re in pain or need help. Newborn grunting is usually related to digestion. Your baby is simply getting used to mother’s milk or formula.

Why is my baby moaning while breastfeeding?

The sounds your baby makes while breastfeeding are due to swallowing gulps of milk, breathing, and the comfort they feel being nestled up so close to their mom. I think they feel completely contented, safe and warm. It appears euphoric. You can’t beat that…

How to tell if baby is comfort nursing?

Your baby is only nursing for comfort nursing when you see these signs:

  1. Flutter sucking, slowing down, stop sucking, or making little sucks.
  2. Still and looking into space while nursing.
  3. Holding the nipple in their mouth but not sucking for milk.
  4. Rooting and sucking lightly at the breast.
  5. Arching and grabbing ears.

Is it normal for baby to make lots of noise when breastfeeding?

Why is my baby making clicking noises?

  • Poor positioning/latch
  • A strong, forceful letdown
  • Engorgement
  • Poor tongue mobility/function (Such as tongue tie)
  • A weakness of the tongue
  • Inability to maintain a seal due to weak muscles or restricted lip (lip tie)
  • Body tension or physical limitations such as Torticollis

Is my baby wheezing or just making noise?

Wheezing stems from the child’s lungs (the lower airway). “To tell if the sound you’re hearing is a wheeze or not, you have to listen to the lungs,” Walsh says. “In general, a wheeze is a higher-pitched sound that happens on the exhale, though it can occasionally happen on the inhale.”

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

Leave a Comment