Why do newborns sneeze

Unlike a lot of other reflexes like the startle reflex or the Moro reflex, the sneezing reflex is one that sticks around as the baby grows and into adulthood. Everyone needs to sneeze every now and then. Primarily, newborns sneeze a lot because they have to. Newborns have smaller nasal passages than adults and may have to literally clear their noses more often than adults do, since they can get clogged more easily.

They sneeze to get rid of anything from breast milk to mucus, smoke, and even dust bunnies in the air. You can help your baby by never smoking around them. Newborns also breathe through their mouths as part of their development. That said, for newborn babies, sneezing can actually be more than just sneezing.

Think of how hard their little immune systems must have to work in meeting great aunt Mildred and the neighbors and that over-zealous grandma at the grocery store. So sneezing is just one way that newborns can try to protect themselves in our germy world. Of course, newborns can also simply get sick. Frequent sneezing in a newborn could be one sign of a respiratory infection. You should get your newborn checked out by your doctor right away if your newborn is sneezing frequently and has any of these additional symptoms:.

In some cases, excessive sneezing in newborns can be one of the signs of a condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome NAS. This occurs when a mother has abused addictive opiate drugs during her pregnancy.

Symptoms of the syndrome, in addition to sneezing, can include nasal stuffiness, unsustained suck, tremor, and abnormal nipple latch. Some of the most commonly abused substances include alcohol, heroin, and methadone. One of the signs of heroin withdrawal, for example, is excessive sneezing. Doctors are sometimes taught to use a scoring system to look for signs of NAS in a baby with known drug exposure. One of the signs they look for is sneezing three to four times in a row within a minute timespan.

Sneezing in newborns is normal. It can also occur due to dust, insect bites , or animal hair. This can be avoided by protecting babies from foreign particles and allergies. Babies sneeze quite frequently in a day and at times in a row which is again very normal. Also, if your baby suffers from the following symptoms then she will require immediate medical attention:. Some other common signs which newborn babies experience include hiccups and rattling noises while sleeping and breathing, etc.

Some babies even make funny noises while sleeping which can also be considered as baby snores. But remember there is no reason to panic till you witness some very serious signs of illness.

Regular doctor visits and detailed discussion regarding the baby breathing patterns will put your mind at ease. Newborns sneeze all the time and it is normal. However, if it is accompanied by a runny nose and fever, then your little one might be sick. Take her to a doctor and get her checked, she will be fine! Also Read: Hiccups in Babies. Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Create an account. Password recovery. FirstCry Parenting. Baby Health. Arti Sharma Paediatrician.

In This Article. Is it Normal for a Newborn to Sneeze? When to Consult a Doctor. Milo Name Meaning and Origin. Xavier Name Meaning and Origin. Chair Sleep Training Method for Babies. Of course. A pimply, pointy-headed newborn —what's up with that?

Let us clue you in on the biggest surprises about little babies. You've brought your little bundle home and you're looking down at their sweet face. But then you start to notice little quirks no one warned you about. Baby's head looks a little cone-shaped. Or her skin is so dry! Or his appetite is never-ending. But let those worries go, new parents. Here's what you never knew you needed to know about Baby's strange little traits and habits. You envisioned a picture-perfect Gerber baby—round, rosy, and oh-so-cute.

If your newborn's head looks a little strange and cone-shaped at first, that's because he probably spent hours wedged in your pelvis.

Openings in the skull allow it to mold its shape to fit through the birth canal. Other imperfections add to your baby's temporary troll-like appearance.

If he slid out on his nose, his nostrils may be a bit squashed. Fluids accumulated under his skin may make his eyes look swollen. And he may even have a few small bruises on his face and scalp if forceps or a vacuum extractor was used to deliver him.

Your baby is a work of beauty in progress. Be patient, and he'll soon become the angel you imagined. After spending months curled up in a bag of water inside a cozy, snug womb, your newborn now has all the space in the world to move, with no restrictions on her limbs.

She hasn't quite figured out how to control her body in this new medium, so a small wave of her arm becomes a wide jerky swing. Babies are also born with the Moro, or startle, reflex: When your infant senses she's falling or is startled, she'll suddenly throw out her arms, open her hands, draw her head back, and then quickly bring her arms back in. This reflex disappears by 3 months.

A still-developing neurological system also sends more electrical impulses to muscles than necessary, which can cause your baby's chin to quiver or legs to tremble. As things become more organized over the first couple of weeks, she'll tend to shake less. Most quivers are nothing to worry about, but see a doctor if your baby's shaking is rhythmic or if a trembling limb doesn't stop when you touch it. Before your husband takes credit for your newborn son's huge testicles, he should know that neither genetics nor super-powered male hormones played any part in their size.

The swelling is actually a result of pressure exerted on your baby during birth, as well as by fluids trapped in tissue.

Also, all new babies still have Mom's hormones circulating in their bodies. In boys, these hormones enlarge the testicles; in girls, they cause the labia to swell.

Genital swelling subsides over the first couple of days. In the first weeks, it might feel as if you're feeding your infant around the clock. Her frequent demands are nature's way of increasing your milk supply to meet her growing appetite. Breast-fed babies also tend to eat more frequently, because breast milk is more quickly digested and more completely absorbed than formula.

The reason for the feeding frenzy, of course, is that your little one has a lot of growing to do.