If you're like many new parents, you may feel the need to watch your baby breathe just to be sure she's still safe and healthy. Rest assured that infants --- particularly in their first few months --- often make strange breathing sounds and don't always breathe in a stable pattern, according to WhattoExpect.com. As you get to know your baby you should become acquainted with her normal patterns have an idea of when you should call the doctor.
Periodic Breathing
Many newborns stop breathing for periods of five to 10 seconds before they start up again, according to KidsHealth. This normal occasional pause in breathing, called periodic breathing, happens most often when infants are sleeping. Seek medical help if your infant's breathing stops for more than 10 seconds at a time or if you notice him turning blue, warns KidsHealth.
Breathing Rate
Most infants take about 24 to 38 breaths per minute, but your baby's breathing rate will vary depending on her level of excitement, according to BabyZone.com. If she's recently been crying, for example, she might temporarily reach a rate of up to 60 breaths per minute, says KidsHealth. She might breathe a little more rapidly for a few days if she has nasal congestion. Gauge your baby's breathing rate by getting into a comfortable position with her where you can easily observe her breaths, count how many times she breathes within 30 seconds and multiply the number by two, says BabyZone.com. Call your pediatrician if your baby's breathing rate exceeds 60 breaths per minute for more than a few minutes.
Common Breathing Sounds
Your baby's breathing may sound "junky" if he has nasal congestion or if he is breathing through saliva and regurgitated milk, says pediatric health website AskDrSears.com. Your baby may also making wheezing sounds due to chest congestion from milk and saliva.
Breathing Problems
Contact your pediatrician if your baby is wheezing, her breathing is labored and her chest seems to cave in when she inhales, says AskDrSears.com. The doctor may recommend using a humidifier and performing gentle clapping motion on your baby's chest and back before you take your baby in for a visit. However, if the problems persist your baby may have a respiratory illness that needs extra treatment. Other signs of potential breathing problems are raspy breaths with a barking cough and rapid, labored breathing, says AskDrSears.com.
SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, typically occurs when babies permanently stop breathing during sleep for no explainable reason. SIDS leads to the deaths of fewer than one in every 1,000 infants and 90 percent of cases occur in babies before they reach six months, according to BabyCenter.com. Although doctors aren't certain about what causes SIDS, you can reduce your baby's risk by not placing him on his stomach during sleep and not dressing him too warmly or putting him in excessive bedding, says KidsHealth. Learning infant CPR will help you feel that you have more control in the event of a breathing emergency, says BabyCenter.com.
