Periodic Breathing in a Newborn: Is It Normal for My Baby to Pause Between Breaths?

Written & medically reviewed by Dr. G — Board-Certified Pediatrician | 35+ Years of Experience About Dr. G →
💡 Quick Answer

Newborns do not always breathe in the steady rhythm adults do. They may take several breaths, briefly pause for a few seconds, then breathe faster before settling back into a regular pattern.

This is called periodic breathing and is usually normal when the pauses are brief, your baby remains comfortable, and there is no blue or gray color, limpness, or difficulty breathing.

A breathing pause lasting about 20 seconds or longer, or any pause associated with abnormal color, reduced muscle tone, or respiratory distress, is not typical periodic breathing and requires immediate medical attention.

✓ Key Takeaways
  • Newborn breathing can normally be irregular.
  • Periodic breathing consists of brief pauses followed by several faster breaths.
  • Normal pauses are generally only a few seconds long.
  • Your baby's color should remain normal during periodic breathing.
  • There should be no persistent grunting, retractions, or struggle to breathe.
  • Periodic breathing becomes less common as the respiratory system matures.
  • A prolonged pause or any color or tone change needs urgent evaluation.

Watching a newborn sleep can be surprisingly stressful.

One moment your baby is breathing quickly. Then the breathing slows. There may be a short pause that makes you wonder whether your baby is breathing at all—and suddenly several quicker breaths follow.

In many healthy newborns, this pattern is completely normal.

The important part is learning how to distinguish normal newborn periodic breathing from apnea or signs that a baby is actually struggling to breathe.

What Is Periodic Breathing?

Periodic breathing is an irregular breathing pattern seen commonly in young infants.

A baby may breathe normally for a period of time, pause briefly, then take several faster or deeper breaths before returning to the previous rhythm.

HealthyChildren describes normal periodic breathing during infant sleep as brief pauses of roughly 5–10 seconds followed by a short burst of faster breathing. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

During a normal episode, the baby remains comfortable and the skin color does not change.

Why Do Newborns Breathe So Irregularly?

A newborn's respiratory control system is still maturing.

Adults have a relatively steady breathing rhythm, but newborns—especially during sleep—can alternate between slower breathing, brief pauses, and short periods of faster breathing.

Their sleep patterns also differ considerably from adult sleep. Periodic breathing is especially noticeable during active or REM sleep.

As the nervous and respiratory systems mature, breathing generally becomes more regular.

How Long Can a Normal Breathing Pause Last?

In normal periodic breathing, pauses are brief.

HealthyChildren describes typical pauses of about 5–10 seconds. Another AAP newborn symptom resource describes transient breathing pauses shorter than about 10 seconds as a common normal irregular breathing pattern when the baby remains comfortable. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Parents do not need to time every breath, but a clearly prolonged pause deserves immediate attention.

💜 Dr. G's Pearl

Periodic breathing looks frightening because parents understandably focus on the pause.

What reassures me is the rest of the picture: the pause is brief, the baby's color stays normal, the chest starts moving again on its own, and the baby looks completely comfortable.

Is Periodic Breathing the Same as Apnea?

No.

Normal periodic breathing consists of short pauses without changes in color, muscle tone, or overall condition.

Apnea is more concerning because the breathing interruption may be prolonged or associated with oxygen changes, abnormal color, heart-rate changes, or changes in muscle tone.

HealthyChildren recommends emergency care when breathing stops for more than about 20 seconds, or when a pause is associated with pale, blue, or gray color or a change in muscle tone. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Why Does My Baby Breathe Fast After the Pause?

The short burst of faster breathing is part of the periodic breathing pattern.

After several seconds without a breath, the baby's respiratory system temporarily increases the rate before returning to a more regular rhythm.

That brief “catch-up” pattern can look dramatic but is expected when the pause was short and the baby remains otherwise normal.

What Is a Normal Newborn Breathing Rate?

Newborns normally breathe much faster than adults.

Their respiratory rate also varies depending on whether they are sleeping, awake, crying, feeding, or moving.

A useful way to assess the resting respiratory rate is to count breaths for a full minute while the baby is calm.

Persistent breathing faster than about 60 breaths per minute while calm deserves medical evaluation, particularly when accompanied by retractions, nasal flaring, grunting, or abnormal color. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

🏠 What Parents Can Do
  • Observe your baby's breathing when the baby is calm or sleeping.
  • Look at your baby's color as well as the breathing pattern.
  • Watch whether the chest moves comfortably without pulling in between the ribs.
  • If you are concerned about fast breathing, count breaths for a full minute while your baby is calm.
  • Keep your baby's nose comfortably clear if nasal congestion is making breathing noisy.
  • Follow safe-sleep recommendations: place your baby flat on the back on a firm, flat sleep surface.
  • Record a short video if you repeatedly see an unusual breathing pattern that disappears before your pediatrician can examine the baby.

Does Periodic Breathing Cause SIDS?

Normal periodic breathing has not been shown to be a cause of sudden infant death syndrome.

The AAP notes that brief apnea can occur even in healthy full-term newborns and that home apnea monitors have not been shown to prevent SIDS. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

The most important way parents can reduce sleep-related infant risk is to follow evidence-based safe-sleep practices rather than relying on consumer breathing monitors.

Does My Healthy Newborn Need a Breathing Monitor?

Usually not.

Most healthy newborns do not need a home cardiorespiratory monitor solely because they have normal periodic breathing.

Consumer monitors can produce false alarms and can increase anxiety without preventing SIDS.

Medical monitoring is appropriate for certain infants with specific medical conditions, but that decision should be made by the baby's healthcare team. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

When Does Periodic Breathing Go Away?

Periodic breathing becomes less common as a baby's respiratory system matures.

HealthyChildren notes that babies generally outgrow periodic breathing during the first half of infancy, often by around 6 months of age. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

It is usually most noticeable during the newborn period and early infancy.

What Does Respiratory Distress Look Like?

Periodic breathing should not look like a baby working hard for every breath.

Signs of respiratory distress include:

  • Persistent breathing faster than about 60 breaths per minute while calm
  • Skin pulling inward between or below the ribs with each breath
  • Nostrils repeatedly flaring
  • Persistent grunting with breathing
  • Difficulty feeding because of breathing effort
  • Blue or gray lips, tongue, or face

These findings deserve prompt evaluation and should not be explained away as periodic breathing. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

When Should I Call My Pediatrician?

☎️ Call Your Pediatrician

Contact your pediatrician if:

  • You are unsure whether your baby's breathing pattern is normal periodic breathing.
  • The breathing pauses appear to be becoming longer or more frequent.
  • Your baby consistently breathes faster than about 60 times per minute while calm.
  • Your baby has recurrent grunting, nasal flaring, or mild retractions.
  • Your baby struggles to coordinate breathing with feeding.
  • You notice a new or persistent change from your baby's usual breathing pattern.
  • Your baby was premature or has a heart, lung, neurologic, or other medical condition and you notice new breathing changes.

When Is a Breathing Pause an Emergency?

🚨 Seek Immediate Medical Care

Seek immediate medical evaluation if your newborn:

  • Stops breathing for about 20 seconds or longer.
  • Develops blue, gray, or very pale lips, tongue, face, or skin.
  • Becomes limp or has a significant change in muscle tone.
  • Is difficult to wake or poorly responsive.
  • Has significant retractions or obvious difficulty breathing.
  • Has persistent grunting or severe nasal flaring.
  • Is too breathless or weak to feed.
  • Has a seizure or collapses.
  • Appears seriously ill.

These findings are not typical periodic breathing. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for my newborn to stop breathing for a few seconds?

Brief pauses can be part of normal periodic breathing when they last only several seconds, your baby's color remains normal, and breathing resumes spontaneously without distress.

Why does my baby suddenly breathe very fast while sleeping?

Newborn breathing normally varies during sleep. A brief burst of faster breathing can follow a short pause during periodic breathing. Persistent rapid breathing while the baby is calm should be discussed with the pediatrician.

Is periodic breathing more common during sleep?

Yes. It is especially noticeable during active or REM sleep, when newborn breathing is naturally more irregular. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Should I wake my baby when I see periodic breathing?

A healthy baby having brief normal periodic breathing generally does not need to be awakened. If the pause seems prolonged, your baby's color changes, or something about the episode concerns you, assess the baby immediately and seek medical help when appropriate.

Does periodic breathing mean my baby has sleep apnea?

No. Periodic breathing of infancy is generally a normal developmental breathing pattern. Sleep apnea and other abnormal forms of apnea are different conditions and may involve longer pauses, oxygen changes, symptoms, or repeated airway obstruction.

Should I use a smart sock or breathing monitor?

Routine home monitoring is not recommended for healthy infants as a way to prevent SIDS. If your baby has a medical condition that requires monitoring, your pediatrician will recommend the appropriate medical equipment. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

💜 Dr. G's Pearl

Newborns are noisy, irregular breathers, and watching them sleep can make even experienced parents nervous.

Brief pause + normal color + comfortable baby + spontaneous return of breathing is the pattern that fits normal periodic breathing.

A prolonged pause, blue or gray color, limpness, or a baby working hard to breathe is a completely different situation and deserves immediate attention.

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References & Medical Sources

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Medical Disclaimer

This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from your child's pediatrician or another qualified healthcare professional. Periodic breathing can be a normal newborn breathing pattern, but a prolonged breathing pause, blue or gray coloration, significant paleness, limpness, abnormal responsiveness, persistent rapid breathing, retractions, grunting, severe nasal flaring, feeding difficulty, or an ill-appearing baby requires medical evaluation. Seek immediate medical care if your baby stops breathing for about 20 seconds or longer, has abnormal color or muscle tone, develops significant breathing difficulty, collapses, has a seizure, or appears seriously ill.

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