Why Does My Baby Grunt and Curl Up? (And Should I Worry?)

Common Reasons Babies Grunt and Curl Their Bodies

Newborns are tiny mysteries wrapped in swaddles. And when they start grunting, scrunching up like a little caterpillar, you can't help but wonder—what's going on in there?

Digestive development (a.k.a. tummy trouble)

One of the biggest culprits is your baby's developing digestive system. Their gut is brand new—like, fresh-out-the-factory new. So when they try to pass gas or stool, it can be uncomfortable. Grunting, straining, curling up? Totally normal.

Sometimes it’s something called Grunting Baby Syndrome (yeah, that’s actually a term). It happens when babies haven't yet figured out how to coordinate their breathing and abdominal muscles when pooping. Sounds weird, but it's real—and usually harmless.

Gas and bloating

Let’s be real: babies are gassy little beings. They swallow air while feeding, crying, and just being... babies. That trapped gas can cause bloating and discomfort, prompting them to curl up and grunt like tiny gym rats trying to squeeze out a rep.

Oh, and formula-fed babies sometimes have more gas than breastfed ones (though that’s not a hard rule—every baby’s different). Burping regularly can help. Or not. (Told you—babies are mysterious.)

Is It Normal or a Sign of Something Serious?

When grunting is just grunting

In most cases, grunting is not a red flag. It’s just your baby adjusting to life outside the womb. Their body is figuring out all kinds of things—how to move, how to digest, how to... well, fart properly.

As long as your baby is eating, growing, and has normal wet and dirty diapers, the grunting is probably just part of the package.

But sometimes... it could be more

Alright, here’s the part where we do need to be real with you. If the grunting is persistent, accompanied by wheezing, blue-tinged skin, or your baby seems like they're really struggling to breathe—don’t wait. Talk to a pediatrician. Better to be safe.

There’s a condition called neonatal respiratory distress, and while it’s rare in healthy full-term babies, it’s not something to brush off. Especially if you're seeing signs like flared nostrils, chest retractions, or a very high-pitched grunt with every breath.

When It Usually Happens (Yep, there's a pattern)

You might notice your baby grunting more in the early morning hours. That’s when their digestion seems to go into overdrive, for whatever reason. Or maybe it just feels more intense when you’re tired and blurry-eyed at 4 a.m.

Also, grunting and curling happen a lot during sleep. Which can be honestly terrifying for new parents. You peek in and your baby looks like they're doing core exercises in their crib. But weirdly, most of the time, they’re not even fully awake when they do it.

Tips to Help Your Baby (and Keep Your Sanity)

Try gentle tummy massage

A few slow clockwise circles on their belly can work wonders. It’s not magic, but hey—it helps get things moving. Just don’t do it right after a feeding, or you’ll end up doing laundry.

Bicycling their legs

No, not real biking (although that’d be impressive). Just gently move their legs like they're riding a tiny invisible bike. This motion can help relieve gas and get the poop train rolling.

Watch your diet (if breastfeeding)

Some moms swear that cutting out dairy, caffeine, or spicy foods helped reduce gas in their babies. Is it scientific? Kinda. But anecdotal evidence is all over the place. You can try it for a week or two and see what happens. Or not—totally your call.

So... Should You Freak Out?

Short answer: no. Long answer: probably not, but always trust your gut. If your baby's grunting and curling are accompanied by crying, poor feeding, vomiting, or just a sense that something feels "off," talk to your doc.

But if your baby is otherwise happy, healthy, and just sounds like a baby bear waking from hibernation? You're probably just witnessing one of the many weird, completely normal phases of newborn life.

And hey—someday, you’ll miss those strange little grunts. (Maybe. Possibly. Or at least they’ll make funny stories.)

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.