Newborn babies sneeze right after birth to clear their nasal passages.

The sneezing reflex in newborns is a critical physiological response managed by the trigeminal nerve. While in utero, the fetus's nasal cavities and lungs are filled with amniotic fluid, which must be expelled or absorbed immediately upon birth to allow for gas exchange. While much of the fluid in the lungs is squeezed out during the passage through the birth canal, the nasal passages often require the force of a sneeze to be fully cleared.Newborns are what medical professionals call obligatory nose breathers. This means they naturally breathe through their noses rather than their mouths for the first few months of life. This anatomical necessity allows them to breathe and swallow milk simultaneously without choking. Because their nasal passages are extremely narrow, even a tiny amount of fluid, lint, or dust can cause a significant obstruction, triggering the sneeze reflex.According to pediatric research from institutions like the American Academy of Pediatrics, this sneezing is rarely a sign of a cold or infection. Instead, it is a sign that the nervous system is functioning correctly. The reflex ensures that the upper respiratory tract remains patent, or open, which is essential for maintaining consistent oxygen saturation levels in the first hours of life. It is one of the many primitive reflexes, alongside the rooting and sucking reflexes, that ensure infant survival.