At wit's end with grunting baby

[Lupeypoon]

My 8 week old grunts, strains and squirms continually (I really do mean continually) when placed on his back to sleep. If he's upright in the sling or on me he's fine. This is manageable in the day but obviously at night it's no good. I've tried co sleeping but it's the same story - when placed on his back he's just writhing, grunting, straining, kicking up his legs, making gulping sounds and waking frequently.

I wondered if it could be silent reflux related but he's not generally unsettled and he's not fussy when feeding usually. It's just the insane noises when on his back. I can't sleep at all next to him even if he stays asleep because even with earplugs in AND white noise on I can still hear him. Swaddling, dummy etc makes no difference. Yet if he's chest down on me he's quiet.

Could it be reflux or just something I need to ride out?

Is he pooing normally?

Sounds like wind that is making baby uncomfortable, could you try a sleeping pod to raise him up a bit?

Sounds like my little boy before we found out he had cows milk protein intolerance. We called it ‘goating’ because that’s what he sounded exactly like! The squirming (like he was trying to escape his stomach or stretch it out) and the accompanying noises all night long went within 3 days of the doc starting him on nutramigen aa.

We've tried, it didn't help at all.

Yes.

My youngest was a grunter & like you say it was all. Day. Long. & as my middle son had reflux I went down the gaviscon route, that didn’t help. I ended up changing his milk to see if it was that & he did settle after that.

I had a little grunter too. I found propping their legs up with a small pillow underneath the calves, kind of a 90° angle, seemed to make sleep more restful.

This is how newborns sleep. There is nothing to fix.

I have wondered but he has literally no symptoms of CMPA - no skin issues, no poo issues etc. And he's not unsettled either, unless he's on his back. Surely with CMPA he would be generally distressed? I'm EBF and seriously loathe to cut out dairy TBH as I'm veggie as it is and I need my protein and calcium!

My eldest didn't do this and nor do any of my friends' newborns. I mean he was a bit squeaky but he could be placed on his back to sleep without turning into a bag of goblins and waking himself up.

I haven't tried this - will give it a go!

Mine both went through that stage at 8 weeks, it's called dyschezia and I think they just grow out of it in a few weeks.

My DD was like this . Slept fine on her stomach but because of midwives advice at the time I was afraid to do so at night . Perhaps try laying him on his side with those side sleeper pillows .

My wee one had zero symptoms of CMPA until we noticed blood and mucus in his poop at 3 months. Granted the Drs all said he was a rare case of no symptoms.

He was on nutrigiamin (so) for three months after and that seemed to sort it out.

I thought it was this but he has been like it since birth and its only when he's on his back. It's the constant gulping noises that are making me question reflux.

• @Lupeypoon hi hon, as others have said most times it’s a developmental stage related to immature gut / digestive issues but there can be a couple of other things to look out for..
• 1. At this age babies are still nose breathers but that means a baby who is prone to nose congestion may struggle on their back . This could also be an issue with babies with structural things such as larger adenoids/tonsils.
• 2. A baby with any of the following should be seen by your GP :
• Labored breathing
• Fast breathing (typically over 40 breaths per minute)
• Receding chin while inhaling
• Rhythmic grunting paired with flared nostrils
• An extra-long exhale
• A whistling sound on exhale
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Increase in grunting frequency or intensity

perhaps you could take him along to clinic and show the health visitor?