Baby makes strange sounds and gasps when pooping, after, and even when changing diapers. What can this be?
Let’s go through possible reasons here.
Many parents have added their thoughts and experiences in the comments section.
Mom’s Question:
My 3-month-old baby just started making squeaky noises and almost a gasping sound during and after pooping.
He gets red and grunts while pooping, then makes this weird noise even while changing his diaper…
This is the only time he makes this noise, but it makes me a little worried; it just seems like he isn’t getting enough air, although he isn’t struggling or crying…
Does anyone know what this is?
Crista
Baby Gasping For Air When Pooping
I truly understand your concern. Even if your boy doesn’t have trouble breathing, I, too, believe that it can be wise to try and find the reason for his sounds.
Acid Reflux
One possible reason that comes to my mind is acid reflux. Some babies gasp or even throw up when pooping due to the stomach fluid being pushed up through their throat when pushing to poop. You can read about a baby that throws up when pooping here.
You also mention that he makes the sound when changing diapers. Again, this could also be due to reflux since the stomach fluids may enter the throat when laid down, particularly when his legs are held up to change diapers.
Laryngospasms
There is a condition called laryngopharyngeal reflux, which is when stomach acid travels up to the throat. This can lead to spasms, so-called laryngospasms, where the vocal cords have a muscle spasm. In children, noisy breathing is one of the symptoms of this. Most children grow out of their reflux, but treatment can be needed, so consider bringing this up with your baby’s doctor.
Tracheomalacia
Another medical possibility is a condition called tracheomalacia. It is rare and most likely what your baby has, but since one of the symptoms is noisy breathing (stridor), I wanted to mention it. Tracheomalacia is a condition that involves a collapse of the airway when breathing. This means that when your child exhales, the trachea narrows or collapses so much that it may feel hard to breathe. Breathing usually comes out noisy.
However, since your baby only makes the gasping sound when pooping, tracheomalacia is not a likely reason.
You can read more about tracheomalacia here. (Opens in new window)
Babies with similar issues
Here is another discussion going on between several parents with a similar situation, and you can start by reading about what they have done and what the doctors have found in their cases: Read about other babies making gasping sounds when laid down here.
Finally, a tip; catch the gasping on film and show it to your baby’s pediatrician. That way, explaining why you do not think the sounds and behavior are normal will be much easier. Logging the incidents can also help the discussion (when does it happen, how often, for how long, and so on).
I wish you good luck!
Paula
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Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing is based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians that you find here. They write or review all health-related articles.
My daughter also makes this kind of noise usually during and after pooping. It’s worse if I move her or change her position during the pooping, and sometimes lasts on and off for 10 minutes. Also, she is treated with Zantax for her acid reflux. It started around 3 months and got worse before stopping around the 5 month mark. Now that she’s 6 months old, she’s back at it!
We saw a pediatric GI doc when it started and he saw video clips of her doing it and said he saw “nothing alarming” and that she would “grow out of it.” Didn’t make me very happy. He offered NO explanation. It sounds a bit like the laryngeal malacia that my niece had but this is accompanied by a caving in of my daughter’s chest. She smiles and sometimes sings/cries through it, so I know it’s not a lack of air. But she makes the worst noise.
Anyone have any updates on how to treat this?
My baby does the same thing, 99% of the time after she poops. She started doing it at about 2 weeks old and continues to do it now (a year old). I caught it on video a few days ago and am taking the video to the doctor today to see what she says. Let me know if you find out what it is.
I read the other discussion, which seems a little different. My baby doesn’t squeak/gasp when laid down, she does it when she’s pooping and after she’s pooped. Has your baby had long episodes? Mine had one about 2 weeks ago and it was really frightening. Anyway, I’ll let you know what the doctor says.
My son did the same thing, my gut told me that he was in pain and seemed to not be comfortable at all. Turned out he had a mild bowel obstructions and was allergic to milk. Have him checked before you end up in the ER.