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As a parent, you are always on alert to your child’s health and well-being so when you hear your newborn sneezing naturally you are concerned.
Since we have always associated sneezing with a cold or respiratory infection of some sort, you may be worried that your newborn is coming down with a virus. While a virus could be harmful in the newborn stage, the chances are that your newborn sneezing is not indicative of an illness at all.
IS IT NORMAL FOR NEWBORNS TO SNEEZE?
You may be wondering if it’s normal for newborns to sneeze even when they’re not sick, and the short answer is yes, it is normal. We all sneeze for various reasons, and newborns are no exception.
It allows him to clean out his nasal passage or helps relieve an irritated feeling within his tiny nose.
There is no need to run off to the medical clinic as soon as your wee one starts to sneeze.
The key to knowing when it is not normal is to look for other symptoms or signs of illness that go along with the sneezing. If there are none, your newborn sneezing is perfectly fine.
WHY DO NEWBORNS SNEEZE?
Sneezing is simply a reflex which everybody has in response to something going on in the nasal passage. It is normal and expected so much time as other symptoms are present.
In fact, it is a positive sign that your newborn’s nervous system is functioning correctly. There are some reasons why your newborn is sneezing, just like yourself.
Some of the most common causes include:
- Irritants: Smoke, pet hair and dander, dust, fabric particles, and more can irritate your little one’s nose. An important point here is that even if you smoke outdoors, you carry in the chemicals and scent on your clothing which can irritate your tiny baby’s nostrils, causing sneezing. Other things around your home can also irritate his little nasal passages. He may sneeze to clear those away. infants nostrils
- Tiny Nostrils: Since newborns are tiny in size, their nostrils are tiny, too. The air passing through his little nose may give him a little tickle, and we all know how that nose tickle feels!
- Dry Air: This is probably one of the most common reasons why newborn sneezes, especially in colder months/climates. The dry air can dry out his nasal passage, and a sneeze is his natural defense to attempt to moisten the passage again.
- Nose Breathing: Newborns are natural nose breathers, so there is a need to make sure it is always clear for air. This may cause a sneeze since the nose could be a little blocked with particles, dust, fabric fibers. The sneeze clears the way for nose breathing to resume.
- Closed Nostril: During nursing, Baby is pressed snuggly up against Mom’s chest, and sometimes his nose will get pressed closed too. He may sneeze, instinctively, to open that nostril again.
NORMAL NEWBORN BREATHING
Parents may notice their newborn breathing in rapid, short spurts and then slow, steady paces. There is no cause for panic, though because this is normal.
In fact, sometimes your little one may pause in their breathing, which can be frightening for parents. This is also normal. The key is to watch for other signs which are cause for alarm.
You should watch out for wheezing, fast and labored breathing, hacking/barking coughs, high-pitched sounds like squeals and coughs that seem to come from deep within. These may also cause newborn sneezing or even infant congestion.
NASAL CONGESTION
Newborn babies can be more susceptible to nasal congestion since babies tend to be nose breathers, at least until they are around two months old. If you notice infant congestion is an issue with your baby, there could be several causes.
Some causes are easily controlled, while others can happen naturally or happen if Baby is sensitive to such things.
These factors include:
- Common colds or flu viruses caught from other family members.
- Acid reflux-milk or formula may come back up through the nasal passage as well as the mouth.
- Allergies (more common in older infants/children).
- Blockage of the nasal passage.
- Irritants such as tobacco smoke, colognes, or perfumes.
- Dry household air (especially in colder months when the furnace is continuously running).
- Cysts or growths (only in very rare cases).
IF BABY IS CONGESTED, HOW CAN YOU HELP?
To help your congested baby, there are several non-invasive, gentle things you can try. It is important to check with your doctor, though, before you try any medicines or tinctures since newborn digestive systems and bodies are not necessarily ready for that.
Using some these easy ideas can help if you do have a congested baby on your hands and they can also contribute to reducing sneezing if your baby is having difficulty.
IRRITANTS
If you notice your baby sneezing a lot or becomes congested each time Great Aunt Martha comes around, perhaps she is wearing too much perfume, or maybe she happens to be a smoker. These two things can irritate your baby’s tiny nose and cause excessive sneezing and in some cases congestion.
In this case, you will want to either ask your family member to tone down the scents when they visit or avoid having too much direct contact with them and Baby.
COMMON COLD AND FLU VIRUS
This is sometimes unavoidable, especially if you have older school-age children in your home. Ideally, your infant shouldn’t be exposed to large crowds until after two months; however, it is not always avoidable. If your newborn comes down with a cold, he may become congested.
You may notice more coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Unfortunately, you will likely have to ride it out. You can elevate your baby’s crib or bassinet, or just have him sleep in an elevated position.
The elevation will help him breath easier through his congested little nose. You can elevate your baby’s crib or bassinet, or just have him sleep in an elevated position.
Letting Baby sleep elevated on your chest while you remain awake and attentive will not only help Baby breathe easier, but allowing for skin-to-skin contact while you do so will contribute to regulating Baby’s breathing, heart rate, temperature, and stress response.
Skin-to-skin contact even helps conserve Baby’s calories, which aids in healthy weight gain but, more importantly, allows Baby to more efficiently fight off the virus.
DRY HOUSEHOLD AIR
If you live in a cold climate, you may find that during winter months your baby is more congested or sneezing more often.
The dry air created by the furnace can be a significant factor in having a congested baby on your hands.
You apparently can’t shut off the furnace, but you can run a cold mist humidifier in your infant’s room to combat that warm, dry air flow. This helps add moisture to the air and in turn, helps Baby breathe easier with less congestion and sneezing.
ACID REFLUX
You should see a doctor if you believe your infant congestion is caused by acid reflux. If you notice milk or formula coming from your baby’s nostrils after feeding, congestion and sneezing due to this, fussiness around feedings or seeming belly pain, this could be acid reflux and a doctor’s advice is best.
BLOCKAGE OF THE NASAL PASSAGE
With having such tiny nostrils, Baby is bound to have a blockage in their nasal passage at some point. It could be as simple as excess mucus. You can help your newborn by using a suction bulb or baby aspirator to remove this mucus.
Sometimes a small cotton swab inserted gently into your baby’s nose can help remove more stable formations. Newborn sneezing, in most cases, is nothing to become anxious about. It is your baby’s reflex in clearing out his tiny nose to make way for better breathing.
If you are concerned about the amount of sneezing your baby is doing, or if he is having difficulty breathing, then it is always best to see your doctor for further advice.
SOURCES: Babycaremag
newkidscenter.com
healthline.com
webmd.com
babble.com
livestrong.com
care.com
It’s been said that feeding your newborn a little formula at night can help keep a baby’s belly full and sound asleep.
Since newborns are meant to wake up many times throughout the night, new moms are eager to catch up on their lost sleep. But an old wive’s tale has been circling the internet concerning formula and it’s ability to keep a baby asleep longer.
So if you feed your newborn formula just before bedtime, will it ensure a restful sleep for you and baby? Let’s just say there’s some advice we carry down from generation to generation… But this should not be one of them.
Feeding a newborn a heavy bottle of formula to keep them full and happy at night might seem like a good idea, but it could actually make your child wake up more.
Here are the top 4 reasons why formula before bed won’t promote better sleep.
Pssst! You might be surprised by #4…
1. Formula Can Upset A Baby’s Belly
Sometimes the heavy consistency of formula can upset an infant’s stomach and cause them to stay awake. Infant formula is more difficult to digest than breast milk, that’s why a formula-fed baby can last longer between feedings. But that does not mean your child will restfully sleep for longer. It can actually disrupt a baby’s ability to stay asleep because her body is busy processing the formula, and the lack of comfortability (i.e. tummy aches, digestion cramps, etc.) might keep her from sleeping soundly. This is especially true when your child mostly gets breastmilk and the evening bottle of formula. A baby on 100% formula can adapt to the formula and the stomach issues may subside. However, a baby who is primarily fed breastmilk and given occasional formula may have a lot more digestive issues with the formula.
2. Your Breast Milk Supply Can Decrease
For some breastfeeding moms, when they cut down on the number of breastfeeding sessions, their milk production, and supply may decrease. The decrease in breast stimulation can signal the brain to slow down on milk production, which can be a very difficult process to reverse. If you start opting for a bottle of formula instead of routine breastfeedings, your body may decrease its milk production sooner than probably intended. Check out our article on how to increase breastmilk supply. Some women are natural overproducers, so this doesn’t apply to all moms.
3. Milk-making Hormones Are Higher At Night
Prolactin, a specific hormone in a mother’s body that is dedicated to producing milk is actually highest at night! In one study conducted by the Oxford Journal, there was a significant rise in a mother’s prolactin levels at night compared to daytime (1). Utilize this gift and keep breastfeeding your baby, especially during these peak hours of production. Your breasts and baby will thank you!
4. It’s A Theory Lacking Evidence
Although feeding your baby formula at night sounds like it can promote better sleep, this old wive’s tale has actually never been proven. Various blogs and forums discuss this topic, but there have not been any studies that show this to be true. Aim to find evidence-based studies versus individual opinions.
Needless to say, feeding your baby formula at night to promote better sleep still lacks sufficient evidence and supportive claims. It is advisable that you continue breastfeeding even in the wee hours of the morning.
SOURCE: Feedingmykid
Here are our top tips for moms with newborn babies, from the mouth of real moms!
1. Don't Hush-A-Bye-Baby
You don't have to be quiet while the baby is sleeping. The womb is loud, and newborns are used to the noise. When ours first came home, we watched television and I would vacuum, wash dishes and talk on the phone around her while she slept. She got used to sleeping with noise, and I could get stuff done. I am still able to vacuum in her room while she sleeps (she is 14 months), and she is peaceful and well rested when she wakes up.
- Jennifer, mom of one in Stafford, VA
2. Soothe Your Wailing Newborn
When my baby cries, I comfort her by patting her back in a heartbeat-like rhythm. That helps her burp more quickly, and it also helps her relax if she's crying from insecurity. If this doesn’t work, I also try one or all of Dr. Harvey Karp's five calming moves: swaddling, shushing, holding her on her side, swinging her or letting her suck. Sometimes it takes all six!
- Anna., mom of one in National City, CA
3. Help Get Your Baby to Latch
If you are having latch-on issues while breastfeeding your baby, you can use breast shields to help the process. This was a wonderful tip that I learned from my lactation consultant. I had to use the shields for an entire month before my baby would latch onto my own nipple without them. Had it not been for the breast shields, I would not have been able to continue nursing my baby.
- April, mom of one in Henderson, NV
4. Get Prepped
At 3 weeks, babies’ days and nights become more predictable, and you can focus on yourself in addition to your newborn. One way to do that is by reducing your stress level - and having everything ready for your hungry baby and yourself is one way to do that. Start by prepping for the next feeding as soon as the previous one is over. For example, after an 11 p.m. feeding, get ready for the 2 a.m. one by prepping whatever you need for feeding and putting out fresh drinking water for yourself so you don’t have anything to think about in the middle of the night. During the day, take advantage of the baby’s naps to work out, shower or catch up on e-mail, or take a nap too.
- Paula, mom of one in Littleton, CO
5. Keeping Your Baby Awake During Feedings
When our baby was eating slowly and sleepily, my husband and I would massage her cheek to stimulate her to eat faster. A gentle stroke with a fingertip on her cheek was all it took, and on those long sleepless nights, this simple trick was a godsend! Our friends have found it works great with their infants too. When babies eat efficiently until they're full before going to sleep, they sleep for longer between feedings. And that means you’re both likely to be calmer!
- Elizabeth, mom of one in Virginia Beach, VA
6. Help Your Baby Bond with Dad
Make sure your baby has ample time alone with Daddy. His touch and voice are different than yours, and this will begin a bonding process and give you a break. Plus, it gets the baby used to being with someone other than you. The first few times can be hard. Make sure your baby is fed and well rested, as this will give you at least one or two hours before you're needed again. Then leave Dad and the baby alone. If you stay nearby, make sure the baby can’t see or hear you, and resist the urge to go into the room and "fix" things if she starts crying. Your baby cries with you and you experiment to find out what's wrong. Dads need time to do this too - in their own way. By allowing this time, your child will learn there is more than one way to receive comfort, which will help immensely when you leave your baby with a sitter or another family member for the first time. You could have your partner bathe her, put her to bed or just read or talk to her.
- Tiffany, mom of one in Colorado Springs, CO
7. Crib Comfort
When my daughter was 3 weeks, she liked to sleep only on me. Every time I put her in her bassinet after she fell asleep on me, she would wake up. I realized she probably liked the warmth. So I started wrapping a blanket around a heating pad and letting it warm up her bed while I fed her. After she was done and had fallen asleep, I removed the heating pad and slipped the baby between the folds of the warm blanket. She would snuggle right in. Prewarming a blanket in the dryer also works.
- Pam, mom of one in Newnan, GA
8. Sleep Trick
When our baby was around 3 weeks old, she would cry and fuss because she was having a hard time falling asleep. One day, we started rubbing her nose, and it worked. In fact, it worked every time. We would start at the top and stroke it straight down to the tip, over and over. Her eyes would grow heavy and eventually close. She is now 4 months old and it still works.
- Hannah, mom of one in Mackinaw, IL
9. Let Your Baby Lead The Way
Being a first-time parent can be stressful - especially when everyone wants to put in their two cents and what they're telling you doesn't feel right. As soon as I came home with my baby, my friends and relatives started giving me advice (more like demands) on how to raise her - they wanted me to do everything on schedule. It was nerve-racking, but I learned to ignore it and remember that this is my child. I couldn't bear the thought of hearing him cry in hunger because it hadn’t been three hours since his last feeding. If you let your baby - not someone else - tell you when he is hungry or tired, you will find that he (and you!) will be much happier and healthier.
- Alena, mom of one in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
10. Baby's First Baths
After the baby's umbilical cord stump falls off (generally by week 3), you’ll finally be able to give her a real bath. To keep the baby warmer, more comfortable and less likely to cry, place a warm washcloth over her tummy during the bath. It makes all the difference between a happy water baby and a miserable one. Also, if your house is on the colder side, turn up the heat a little before the bath so the cold air won't be as much of a shock after the bath. These tips made all the difference for my little girl - she loves bath time.
- Rachel, mom of one in Los Gatos, CA
11. Another Reason Babies Cry
People always say that babies cry because they want food, their diaper needs to be changed, they're bored, etc., but they always leave out that the baby might be cranky because he's tired. Our son used to go nuts during his first month, and we tried everything to calm him. It turned out that what he really needed was less stimulation and more sleep. Sometimes babies really need less - not more - from you.
- Kim, mom of one in Glendale, NY
12. Layer Your Baby's Crib
When a baby has a diaper blowout or upset tummy in the middle of the night, it can be hard on both mom and baby to have to completely unmake the crib or bassinet and change all the sheets - and all the fussing makes it that much harder to get the baby back to sleep. So I put two layers of sheets and waterproof mattress covers on the crib mattress at a time (mattress cover, sheet, mattress cover, sheet). That way, we can just pull off the top two layers, change her and put her back in bed. No fumbling for clean bedclothes - and no 2 a.m. laundry detail!
- Jerrie, mom of one in Lonoke, AR
SOURCE: mom365
