Do Babies Sweat? (And Other Questions You Feel Weird Asking Your Pediatrician)

Welcoming a newborn into the world is a thrilling experience—and one that doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, your tiny human does something totally new and unexpected, sending you straight into a 2 a.m. Google rabbit hole.

Wait, do babies sweat? Why do they sound like a grunting farm animal? Are those boobs on my baby?!

If you’ve ever hesitated addressing these random middle-of-the-night quirks and queries with your pediatrician for fear of sounding silly or ridiculous, take a deep breath. You’re definitely not alone. Here, we share the most random but relatable questions parents have posted on social media and The Bump community forums—along with answers from pediatric experts. Read on for answers to all your burning (slightly embarrassing) questions.

Do Babies Sweat?

Yes, babies do sweat—and it’s completely normal and expected in infants. In fact, babies are born with all of their sweat glands, explains Dr. Benjamin S. Ho, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician and the medical director of Texas Children’s Pediatrics’ Concierge Medicine Program. They’re just not yet fully developed, and won’t be until your kiddo is between 2 and 3 years old.

So, why is baby shvitzing so much? Because their eccrine glands aren’t fully matured yet, they can easily fuss themselves into a sweat—or sweat during a really deep sleep. And if you notice them sweating in just one specific area, that’s okay, too. While adults have active sweat glands all over the body, newborns mostly sweat on their forehead and scalp when they’re warm (since that’s where their glands first start fully functioning). Their palms and soles might also get clammy when they’re crying or stressed.

Rest assured that, in most cases, you don’t need to sweat it if baby is a little sweaty. But there are some red flags to watch for, such as:

• Fever: Sweating can be a sign of a fever or medical issue. If you’re concerned, or if the sweating is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting or uncontrollable crying, take your child to the doctor—they might have a virus or infection.

• Overheating: Sweating can sometimes be a sign of overheating—often caused by overbundling or a warm, stuffy room. This can be dangerous if baby is overheating in their sleep and is a risk factor for SIDS. Feel baby’s chest—if they’re hot to the touch, remove one layer of clothing and check on them again.

• Struggling during feeds: It’s super common for babies to work up a sweat while nursing or bottle-feeding. But if they’re sweating heavily on the forehead, panting, catching their breath or exhausted from the task, it may be a sign of an underlying condition. Talk to your pediatrician.

Why Do Babies Look So Wrinkly?

Yes, baby may look like a grumpy old man on Day 1. This is also very normal—and pretty hilarious. So, why does your newborn appear so—um—weathered?

Think about what happens to your fingers after a long bath. That “pruning” effect you see on your skin is similar to what happens to babies. “Newborns look wrinkly because they’ve been floating in amniotic fluid for several months. Once they’re born, the skin dries quickly, making it appear wrinkled and flaky,” says Dr. Ho. He adds that some wrinkly babies haven’t fully developed the layer of fat beneath their skin yet; this can make their skin appear loose.

Additionally, after birth, babies also begin to lose what’s called “vernix caseosa”, the white, creamy coat that serves as a protective layer for them in utero. This can further make their skin appear dry, chapped and—yes, even wrinkly—for a while.

Why Do Babies Drool So Much?

Drooling is very common in babies, says Dr. Lauren Crosby, MD, a pediatrician and official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Babies just can’t hold their saliva the way older kids and adults do. “They haven’t developed the oral motor skills related to swallowing—and don’t have front teeth to act as a dam to keep the saliva in their mouth.”

A common assumption is that lots of saliva means a tooth is coming. But, as Dr. Crosby notes, that isn’t always the case.

In any case, drooling isn’t a bad thing. According to the AAP, saliva fulfills several important functions, like softening food once solids are introduced, keeping baby’s mouth moist (making swallowing easier), washing away food residue, aiding digestion and even preventing tooth decay—you know, once they do get teeth!

While a drooly baby is generally nothing to be worried about, sudden excessive drooling accompanied by trouble breathing, lethargy or an inability to swallow can be a sign of a medical emergency (like an airway obstruction or severe infection).

Why Do Babies Make Scary Snorting Noises?

For such tiny bodies, newborns make a whole lot of noise. And while most sounds are baby’s way of communicating, some sound effects can definitely raise concerns.

When it comes to those stuffy snorts, though, there’s generally no need to worry. It’s likely a little mucus in baby’s nose. “Babies are nose breathers and have small airways,” Dr. Crosby says. “Normal congestion can cause these snorting noises, and they can be louder or more frequent if baby has a cold.”

If the snorting persists, Dr. Crosby recommends putting a drop of breast milk or saline into one of baby’s nostrils, then suctioning the mucus out. Running a cool mist humidifier can ease congestion.

It’s also fine if you notice baby oscillating between periods of quiet and snorting (like our community member did). This pattern is called “periodic breathing,” where an infant alternates between short pauses and quick breaths during sleep, which is totally normal and expected in children up to 6 months.

That said, irregular breathing can sometimes signal an emergency, so keep a close eye out for:

• Long pauses: If baby stops breathing for more than 10 seconds, take them to the emergency room.

• Lip or skin discoloration: Blue, purple, gray or white skin discoloration on the skin or lips is usually a sign of low oxygen in the blood and requires immediate attention.

• Difficulty breathing: If baby is wheezing, whistling, grunting, sucking in their chest or flaring their nostrils, they may be struggling to breathe.

Do Baby’s Genitals Look Normal?

As alarming as it sounds, it’s totally normal for baby to have swelling in the diaper area! Lots of babies have puffy-looking genitals. “Swelling in baby’s genitals occurs temporarily due to the circulation of maternal hormones in baby’s body. But it usually disappears within the first few weeks,” explains Dr. Crosby.

In addition to puffy genitals, baby girls may experience what’s called a “false menses” or some light vaginal bleeding, which normally shows up as a faint streak of blood or a pink smudge in the diaper. In most cases, this is a non-concern that can occur within the first few days of birth, when the maternal hormones circulating in baby’s body begin to drop off.

So, are baby’s genitals normal? If some swelling and a temporary “mini-period” are the only things you’ve noticed, no alarm bells necessary. That said, check in with your doctor if the puffiness lasts longer than expected, the bleeding is heavy or if baby seems uncomfortable down there.

Why Does Baby Have Tiny Breasts?

Noticing some “boobage” on baby? Like genital swelling, this also happens because of maternal hormones (such as estrogen, which causes breast enlargement) that infants are exposed to in utero.

You might even see some milky discharge leaking from your newborn’s nipples (don’t panic or try to squeeze anything out). This harmless fluid, made up of lactose and proteins, is called galactorrhea (or “witch’s milk”), and it’s common in both boys and girls, typically lasting until 2 months of age.

Generally speaking, tiny breasts and leaky nipples are not abnormal for newborns—but if they’re accompanied by tenderness, a fever or redness on one side, reach out to your pediatrician.

Why Do Babies Cross Their Eyes?

Vision and focus are skills that develop slowly. “A newborn’s eye muscles and brain pathways are still learning to work together,” explains Dr. Ho. “That’s why they can’t consistently coordinate both eyes and have limited focusing ability. By 3 to 4 months of age, it should improve.”

Keep in mind that crossed eyes can—in some cases—be a symptom of a treatable condition called strabismus, or eye misalignment. Reach out to your pediatrician if baby’s eye-crossing happens frequently or persists after they’re 6 months old.

Do Babies Blink?

Despite what all of that adorable, wide-eyed staring would have you believe, babies do blink—just not as often as adults (and, to be fair, they don’t need to). “Babies typically only blink two to three times per minute, while adults blink 15 to 20 times per minute,” Dr. Ho explains. “This is because they have smoother corneas, which means their eyes don’t dry out as quickly.” He adds that “when a child is interested in something and stares at it intently, blinking temporarily decreases even further.” In other words, there’s nothing wrong with baby—they’re just busy taking in the world around them!

While regular, spontaneous blinking in adults is rare in babies, they do have an automatic blink reflex called the “dazzle reflex,” where they close or squeeze their eyes when suddenly hit with a bright light.

Why Are Baby’s Farts So Loud?

Okay, are rowdy baby farts par for the course? As it happens, big, loud, thundering farts are just as common in infants as they are in adults—and, in most cases, they’re nothing to lose sleep over.

“Flatulence in babies happens when they swallow air from feeding (and digesting the feeding itself), crying or sucking on their pacifier. That air leaves their digestive system through a small hole at high speed, creating a turbulent sound known as a fart,” Dr. Crosby explains. The more air baby ingests, the louder their farts will be.

Volume aside, gas itself is usually harmless and a silly-sounding, but sure sign baby’s digestive system is moving—and, if they fart loudly and keep smiling or sleeping, you’re in the clear. But if they’re crying, squirming or have a hard tummy, they might need help releasing trapped air.

Some gas-relief exercises you can try are baby bicycles (lying baby on their back and moving each leg one at a time in a pedaling motion), tummy time (which applies pressure to the stomach) or extending baby’s legs, then gently scrunching them towards their belly.

To Sum It Up

Parenthood is a wild ride. It hits you with an avalanche of things you never thought you’d spend your time wondering. But one thing you can be sure of is that no question is ever too weird to bring to your pediatrician—and you certainly don’t have to navigate the “whys” of baby’s sweats, farts and folds alone. So go ahead and ask—your peace of mind will be worth it!

How We Developed This Article

To create this article, we researched quirky, everyday questions parents have asked on social media and our community forums, and interviewed two pediatricians and a real mom. This article was then vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our pediatrician medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Isolde Quirante is an assistant editor at The Bump with a background in literature, journalism and linguistics. When she isn’t helping parents pick the perfect name for their child—or spotting the latest online trends—she’s decoding all the things that make pregnancy and postpartum a crazy-wonderful journey.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.