Newborn Sleep Twitching and Grunting: What's Normal

By Baby Sleep editorial team · Updated October 26, 2026

Newborns are noisy, wiggly sleepers, and most of the grunting, twitching and squirming you see is a normal part of how baby sleep works. About half of a newborn's sleep is "active sleep," a lighter stage with twitches, flutters and noises. That can be unsettling at 2 a.m., so this guide explains what is typical, what you can do, and when to call your pediatrician. It cannot diagnose anything, and if something worries you, call.

What you may notice, and why

Newborns spend about half of their sleep in active sleep and half in quiet sleep:

Because active sleep is light, babies wake easily from it, which is one reason newborn sleep feels so broken.

Why newborns grunt

• Tiny airways. Newborns breathe through small nasal passages and often sound congested even when healthy.
• Light sleep. They spend lots of time in active sleep, where noise is common.
• Digestion. A newborn's digestive system is still immature, and gas or a bowel movement can cause grunting and squirming. Burping during and after feeds, holding baby upright for a bit, and gentle bicycle legs while baby is awake can help.
• Still learning. They are practicing breathing, moving and settling.

Grunting baby syndrome is a popular name for daily grunting in an otherwise healthy newborn. Whatever you call it, if baby is feeding well, gaining weight and breathing comfortably, it usually fades as digestion matures. Check with your pediatrician if you are not sure.

Why newborns twitch and startle

• Active sleep. Twitching of fingers, toes, arms or the face is common in lighter sleep.
• The startle reflex. The Moro reflex makes babies fling their arms out suddenly, sometimes waking themselves. It is normal and usually fades by about 3 to 4 months.
• Sleep starts. Brief jerks as baby drifts off are common.

A safe swaddle helps some babies feel more settled, but swaddling has strict rules. See how to swaddle a newborn safely.

Normal newborn sleep stuff

• Grunting and squirming
• Brief fussing that fades
• Startling with arms flung out
• Irregular breathing with short pauses of a few seconds, followed by normal breaths
• Smiling or twitching in sleep
• Eyes partly open
• Hiccups

Should you pick up your baby?

Try the pause: wait a minute or two when baby makes noise with eyes closed. Many babies settle back into deeper sleep on their own. If baby escalates to real crying, shows hunger cues like rooting or hands to mouth, or seems uncomfortable, respond. Pause for noises. Respond to cries. You are never wrong to respond.

If you are waking to every grunt, try white noise at a safe volume across the room. See white noise for newborns. A video monitor can help you check on baby without opening the door, but it is a convenience and not a safety system.

When to call your pediatrician

This is not a diagnostic list. Call your pediatrician if any of these apply, and call 911 for an emergency:

• Breathing seems labored, fast or noisy while baby is awake and calm, or the chest pulls in with each breath.
• Pauses in breathing last longer than a few seconds, or baby's skin or lips look blue or gray (call 911).
• Baby is limp, very hard to wake or unresponsive (call 911).
• Movements are rhythmic, continue when you gently hold the limb, or come with color change or staring.
• Baby is feeding poorly, has fewer wet diapers than expected or has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
• Grunting comes with signs of pain, forceful or green vomiting, or a swollen belly.
• Something just does not seem right.

Keep sleep safe while you wait it out

Noise is not a reason to change the sleep setup. Every sleep, back to sleep, on a firm and flat surface, with nothing else in the crib or bassinet, in your room but not in your bed. Never prop baby up or use wedges or inclined sleepers to "help with breathing" or reflux. The AAP says they are not safe for sleep. See the safe sleep nursery setup guide.

Common questions parents ask

Can I tell by sound whether it is normal? Usually the context tells you more than the sound: is baby feeding well, content when awake, and breathing comfortably? Those are the signs that matter. A noisy sleeper who feeds and grows well is usually a typical newborn.

Does grunting mean my baby is in pain? Not by itself. Grunting is common in sleep and often settles on its own. Pain tends to look different: a high-pitched cry that cannot be soothed, arching, poor feeding or an unusual look to the baby. Call your pediatrician if you are worried.

Do preemies sleep differently? Premature babies often follow their adjusted age and may have different needs. Ask your pediatrician what to expect for your baby.

Will it stop? Many of these movements fade over the first few months as sleep matures and the startle reflex fades, often by about 3 to 4 months. Some active-sleep noise continues much longer and is normal.

Quick reference for tonight

1. Look at eyes and breathing: eyes closed and a calm face usually mean active sleep.
2. Wait one to two minutes.
3. If baby settles, go back to sleep yourself.
4. If crying builds, respond: check hunger, diaper, burp, then comfort.
5. If anything on the call list above appears, call.

If you want a plain-language reference for these everyday questions, The Newborn Sleep Playbook includes a chapter on what is normal in weeks 0 to 12 and a bonus quick guide with 101 newborn sleep answers. It is educational and does not replace your pediatrician's advice.