Hearing unusual sounds during a baby’s breathing can cause worry. A distinct clicking noise might prompt questions about its origin and what it signifies. While many such sounds are temporary and not serious, understanding the potential reasons can provide clarity. This article explores various causes of clicking sounds in a baby’s breathing, from common occurrences to less frequent conditions. It also offers guidance on when professional medical evaluation is advisable and practical steps to support your baby.
Understanding Common Causes of Clicking Sounds
Many instances of a baby making a clicking noise while breathing stem from common, usually harmless factors. Newborns primarily breathe through their noses, and their nasal passages are very narrow. Even a small amount of mucus or dried milk within these tiny airways can create a whistling or clicking sound as air passes. This can lead to noisy breathing or snoring. These sounds are often transient, resolving as the baby grows.
Babies also produce mucus to keep their nasal passages and throats moist. Since infants cannot effectively clear their noses by blowing, mucus can accumulate in the back of the throat. As the baby breathes, this pooled mucus can vibrate, producing bubbling or coarse, crackling sounds, sometimes called a “ruttle.” This sound is often more noticeable during sleep or feeding.
A newborn’s respiratory system is still maturing, leading to irregular breathing patterns. They may breathe quickly, slowly, or have brief pauses, which are normal. Occasional grunts or sighs are also common and not concerning. These developmental characteristics, combined with small airway size and mucus, account for most benign breathing noises in infants. Sounds from these common causes improve as the baby matures and their airways enlarge.
Less Common Reasons for Breathing Noises
While often benign, some less common conditions can contribute to noisy breathing, including clicking sounds. One such condition is laryngomalacia, where the cartilage in a baby’s voice box (larynx) is softer than usual at birth. When the baby inhales, this soft tissue can temporarily collapse inward, partially blocking the airway and creating a high-pitched squeaky sound called stridor, which can sometimes be perceived as clicking. This noise often worsens when the baby is crying, feeding, sleeping on their back, or has a respiratory infection.
Laryngomalacia is the most frequent cause of noisy breathing in infants and usually resolves as the baby grows, by 12 to 24 months of age. In more severe instances, it might affect feeding, weight gain, or cause breathing pauses. Another condition, tracheomalacia, involves the softening of the windpipe (trachea) cartilage, causing it to collapse during breathing, particularly exhalation. This can result in rattling or high-pitched breathing noises that may worsen with crying or upper respiratory infections.
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) can also contribute to noisy breathing. When stomach contents and acid flow back up, they can irritate the airway, leading to inflammation and increased mucus. This irritation may contribute to gurgling, congested, or wheezing sounds, and may worsen noisy breathing. Persistent or severe reflux symptoms alongside noisy breathing warrant professional evaluation.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many noisy breathing patterns are temporary, certain signs indicate a baby needs prompt medical attention. Seek immediate care if your baby shows signs of respiratory distress. These include persistently rapid breathing, generally more than 60 breaths per minute when calm. Look for flaring nostrils, where the baby’s nose widens with each breath, indicating increased effort.
Chest retractions are another concerning sign, appearing as skin sucking in around the ribs, below the breastbone, or above the collarbone with each breath. A bluish tint around the lips, tongue, or fingertips (cyanosis) signals insufficient oxygen, requiring urgent evaluation. Changes in behavior, such as unusual lethargy, difficulty waking up, or unusual irritability, are also indicators.
If the clicking sound is accompanied by poor feeding, refusal to eat, or significant reduction in intake, it is concerning. Fever, especially in infants under three months, combined with breathing difficulties, warrants a doctor’s visit. Any pauses in breathing longer than 10 seconds, or if the baby chokes frequently while feeding, also warrant contacting a pediatrician without delay.
Supporting Your Baby and Next Steps
For babies with noisy breathing not associated with concerning symptoms, several home measures can offer support. Using a cool-mist humidifier in the baby’s room can add moisture to the air, helping loosen mucus and ease congestion. This can make breathing more comfortable, particularly when the air is dry.
Clearing nasal passages is another helpful step. Saline nasal drops can thin mucus, making it easier to remove with a soft rubber bulb syringe. This can alleviate whistling or clicking sounds caused by blockages in the tiny nasal airways. Ensuring proper feeding positions, such as keeping the baby upright during and after feeds, can also help reduce reflux that might contribute to noisy breathing.
If medical attention is sought, parents can expect a thorough evaluation. The doctor will perform a physical examination, listen to the baby’s lungs, and observe their breathing patterns. Providing a video or sound recording of the noisy breathing can be helpful for the pediatrician to assess the sounds accurately. Depending on observed symptoms, further diagnostic tests like imaging or a specialized scope procedure might be considered, though often unnecessary for common causes.