Why Do Newborns Blow Bubbles?

It is very common for newborns to blow bubbles with their mouths—a phenomenon that is typically a normal physiological occurrence. This is primarily due to the immaturity of the newborn’s oral swallowing function. In fact, a newborn’s organs and central nervous system are still undergoing development, making it difficult for them to precisely control certain behaviors—such as drooling—so blowing bubbles is also considered relatively normal.

Under normal circumstances, increased salivary secretion may cause babies to blow bubbles frequently—often simply because they enjoy playing with saliva. In some cases, excessive drooling—and thus bubble-blowing—may be triggered by teething. These scenarios are all considered normal.

On the other hand, frequent spitting or drooling can sometimes signal neonatal pneumonia. Because all organ systems in newborns are still immature, early symptoms of disease may be subtle or nonspecific.

During neonatal pneumonia, pulmonary function declines, which may manifest clinically as bubble-blowing. To assess for possible pneumonia, count the baby’s respiratory rate while they are asleep: if it exceeds 40 breaths per minute, pneumonia should be suspected, and prompt medical evaluation is warranted.