When you are a new parent, everything that a baby does is cute and you do not want to take your eyes off them. Hiccups are also such a wonderful thing to watch. But after some time of watching the baby hiccups, you will start to worry whether your baby is fine. I remember watching my first baby’s hiccups as if he was performing something clever on a stage and starting to panic five minutes later.
As adults we always get hiccups and it is normal for us. But it does not feel right when your baby gets hiccups frequently. Is it normal for babies to get hiccups? Is it a sign of an underlying health condition? In this article, I will cover everything you need to know about baby hiccups.
Baby hiccups are completely healthy and are just only a sign of your baby’s growth and development. Hiccups occur in the gastrointestinal tract and hardly ever indicate a health problem for your baby. So there is nothing to worry about when your baby gets hiccups during the day or night. Let me tell you how these baby hiccups happen and how you can get rid of them.
CONTENT
1.  Why does my baby get hiccups?
1.2 Non-feeding related causes
2.  How long does a baby hiccup last?
3.  How to get rid of baby hiccups?
3.1 How to get rid of hiccups in breastfed babies
3.2 How to get rid of hiccups in bottle-fed babies
3.3 Hiccups remedies for both bottle-fed and breastfed babies
4.  What to avoid during a baby hiccup
5.  How to prevent baby hiccups?
1. Why does my baby get hiccups?
Hiccups happen as a result of contractions in the human diaphragm. This is the reason for hiccups in both adults and babies. The diaphragm is the large muscle that runs across the rib cage and moves up and down when we are breathing. Babies have a small and immature diaphragm which makes them prone to hiccups. Nobody knows why do these hiccups happen but the contractions in the diaphragm can happen due to many reasons.
1.1 Feeding related causes
Baby hiccups are mainly caused by overfeeding the baby, eating too fast, or by swallowing too much air during the feeds. These reasons can bloat the baby and push the stomach against the diaphragm which causes it to spasm. Such a spasm in the diaphragm means a Hi from the hiccups. So it is very common for babies to get hiccups just after a feed or during a feed.
If you closely offer your baby two snacks that are different in temperature it will also lead to hiccups. Let’s say you offered a breast milk popsicle to your teething baby and then after 15 minutes you give them a warm bottle of milk. The difference in temperature in those foods can cause a sudden change in the temperature of the stomach which is another common reason for hiccups.
1.2 Non-feeding related causes
There is one health condition common among babies that can have frequent hiccups as a symptom. That is Gastroesophageal reflux which is commonly known as GERD. A baby who has GERD will experience regular hiccups and spit-ups. Because of GERD, partially digested food and digestive acids will flow back to the esophagus causing a burning sensation to the babies.
The esophagus passes through the diaphragm which will irritate the diaphragm also. When the diaphragm is irritated, it can cause frequent hiccups. This condition sounds like a serious and complicated health condition but it is not intense and does not always create health issues for your baby.
Hiccups alone cannot confirm that your baby is having reflux. If your baby is having frequent hiccups along with the following symptoms please make an immediate visit to your pediatrician for a proper diagnose. GERD is common among babies and can be treated very easily.
- The baby spits up milk regularly
- The baby cries excessively after feeds
- The baby abnormally arches his back during and after feeds
2. How long does a baby hiccup last?
Baby hiccups will last for about 10 minutes but your baby can have several hiccups a day. Generally, if your baby is not uncomfortable and does not show any sign of pain, baby hiccups are not a reason to worry about.
Baby hiccups will heal by themselves so you can wait till they fade away. In case that your baby’s hiccups are intense and last for an unusual period, seek medical advice.
3. How to get rid of baby hiccups?
Although baby hiccups are harmless and cute, we do not want our babies to hiccup till it solves by itself. There are few easy remedies to get rid of baby hiccups. As most of the hiccups are caused by feeding practices, I have categorized the remedies based on the feeding methods. Select a remedy considering how your baby is being fed.
3.1 How to get rid of hiccups in breastfed babies
- Burp the baby when you switch the breasts during a feed.
- Make sure that the baby latches properly to the breast. The baby’s lips should seal around your areola not only the nipple.
- If you are not sure whether the baby is latching to the breast properly, please consult a lactation consultant or your pediatrician.
3.2 How to get rid of hiccups in bottle-fed babies
- Burp the baby for every 2 to 3 ounces of milk he eats. You can also pause feeding after 5-10 minutes, burp the baby, and restart feeding.
- Position the bottle in a way that the nipple has no air in it. It will considerably reduce the amount of air that your baby will swallow so there will be fewer hiccups.
3.3 Hiccups remedies for both bottle-fed and breastfed babies
- Do not lay the baby as soon as feeding is done. Keep the baby upright for 20 to 30 minutes after each feed.
- If you cannot identify a definite reason for your baby’s hiccup, just rock your baby slowly and rub his back.
4. What to avoid during a baby hiccup
- Do not put a wet towel on your baby’s forehead. It will make no change other than giving your baby a cold.
- Do not scare your baby. It will make your baby cry which doesn’t help with hiccups at all.
- Do not even think about holding your baby’s breath just to stop hiccups. That doesn’t work and very dangerous to try on a newborn.
5. How to prevent baby hiccups?
Prevention is always the best way to go. There is no way you can fully eliminate the hiccups but following these methods, you can reduce the frequency of baby hiccups. Eventually, the hiccups will fade away as your baby grows up.
- As I have mentioned from the beginning, feeding methods are the major cause of baby hiccups. Always make sure that you are not overfeeding your baby.
- The bottled-fed babies are mostly overfed because the parents force them to eat the same amount of milk every day. There cannot be a fixed amount of milk that your baby should drink regularly as their appetite will change. Go with the cues of your baby and stop when he is full.
- Select the right nipple for your baby’s bottle. When the nipple is too big, the milk will flow easily making the baby eat more than he wants.
- Give your baby some tummy time every day. You can also try bicycling his legs and body massages to get off excess air out of the baby’s body.
