The rumbling sounds coming from your baby’s abdomen, medically known as borborygmi, are a normal sign of a working digestive tract. These gurgles, clicks, and rumbles are the sounds of gas and fluid moving through the intestines as the body processes milk or food. While the noise can sometimes sound intense or concerning, it is a common occurrence in infancy. A noisy tummy, by itself, is rarely a cause for alarm and indicates that the baby’s gastrointestinal system is functioning as it should.
Common Digestive Reasons for Stomach Noises
The source of these abdominal sounds is peristalsis, the wave-like muscle contractions that propel contents through the digestive tract. This rhythmic movement mixes the stomach and intestinal contents—liquid, partially digested food, and air—creating the distinctive gurgling sound. Peristalsis occurs constantly, but the sounds are often more noticeable and loud in infants.
Babies lack the fat and muscle layers that muffle digestive noises in older children, allowing the sounds to transmit clearly. The immaturity of a newborn’s gastrointestinal system also contributes to louder sounds as the gut learns to coordinate milk movement efficiently. The rumbles can also act as a hunger cue, as the digestive muscles contract in anticipation of a meal.
Feeding Habits and Dietary Factors
Increased stomach noise is often linked to how a baby is fed or the composition of their diet, suggesting actionable solutions. A contributor to gurgling and gas is aerophagia, or the swallowing of air during feeding. This occurs with a poor latch while breastfeeding, a bottle nipple with an improper flow, or intense crying before a feeding.
To minimize swallowed air, position the baby with their head slightly higher than their stomach during feeding. Frequent burping throughout the feeding, rather than waiting until the end, helps release trapped air. Another common factor is the temporary inability to fully digest lactose, a sugar found in milk.
This is called transient lactose overload, where the baby’s body is overwhelmed by a rapid intake of lactose-rich foremilk, causing fermentation and gas. If breastfeeding, adjusting management, such as block feeding or ensuring the baby finishes one breast, helps them access the fattier hindmilk. For formula-fed babies, ensuring the formula is correctly prepared and the bottle is properly angled helps prevent air from being swallowed. When solids are introduced, an increase in gut noise is common as the digestive system adjusts to processing new types of fiber and complex carbohydrates.
When Rumbling Signals a Problem
While most stomach rumbling is benign, the noise can signal an underlying issue when accompanied by specific signs. Parents should seek medical advice if the gurgling is paired with symptoms of distress, as these combinations suggest a potential health concern. Signs that warrant immediate consultation include persistent, forceful, or projectile vomiting, especially if it contains blood or bile.
Additional red flags are the presence of blood or mucus in the stool, a fever, or a markedly distended abdomen that feels hard to the touch. Severe, inconsolable crying suggesting acute pain is concerning. A lack of bowel movements, a reduction in wet diapers, or a refusal to feed alongside the loud rumbling may indicate a serious issue like an intestinal blockage.