Should I worry if my baby gets the hiccups?
This article looks at a very common phenomenon. Many parents feel anxious about their baby’s frequent hiccups, worrying that the different frequency compared with adults might mean something’s wrong. It’s understandable – when it comes to our child’s development, we notice every little thing. So what should you do if your baby hiccups a lot?
A baby’s hiccups can start as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy. Mum won’t feel them yet, of course, but towards the end of pregnancy you may notice small, rhythmic movements inside your bump. The diaphragm’s contractions can sometimes even be seen with the naked eye as the tummy wriggles.
In the first year, hiccups are more common than later on. Some babies hiccup several times a day. As a parent you may find this worrying, because you’re seeing something you might assume isn’t normal. Let’s look at what causes hiccups, whether you need to worry, and what you can do if you’d like to reduce how often they happen. We’ll also cover what not to do.
What are hiccups?
Hiccups are a natural physiological reflex. Picture the diaphragm moving tirelessly up and down. When this movement suddenly changes and turns into rhythmic contractions, hiccups appear. They’re involuntary.
You hear the sound because the sudden motion pushes air upwards towards the vocal cords; they move closer together and close quickly. Air then forces through the closed cords, creating that familiar hic.
Hiccups don’t bother babies – they can happily look around, rest or doze while they happen.
Why does a baby hiccup?
Hiccups are natural for everyone. They can be linked to how tense the diaphragm is. For example, after a feed, when a baby’s tummy is full, then they start wriggling and stretching in the cot, those movements can trigger hiccups by putting pressure on the diaphragm. They also often begin when the stomach fills quickly with food or air. That’s one reason it helps if babies feed more slowly and calmly. Sometimes hiccups have psychological triggers too – excitement, surprise, joy.
If a baby feeds greedily or takes bottle feeds, they may swallow air. The teat hole size affects how quickly they drink expressed milk or formula – and how much air goes down. A tense, full tummy can set hiccups off. Hiccups themselves are normal, but various circumstances can bring them on.
Is your baby hiccupping too often?
How often a baby hiccups doesn’t usually matter for their health. It generally doesn’t bother them; if it does, they may cry, and hiccups often stop quickly. Parents tend to be more concerned about why their baby hiccups and why it seems frequent. We often compare with older children and adults, who rarely hiccup – but babies’ bodies work differently.
When should you see a doctor?
If, alongside hiccups, you notice other problems, such as signs of reflux. If your baby appears to have tummy pain or is coughing, seek specialist advice, as reflux is often found in such cases. Also contact a doctor if hiccups persist for a long time.
When else might reflux be the issue?
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Your baby spits up regularly despite burping, and it’s greenish–yellow or even pinkish in colour
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They’re restless, sleep poorly, refuse feeds due to inflammation from acid coming back up
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They often arch their neck and back
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Weight gain is falling short
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The airways may become irritated, leading to more frequent upper respiratory infections
How can we help avoid frequent hiccups?
Hiccups don’t cause problems, and they’re not always preventable. If they are frequent and you’d like to reduce them naturally, aim to slow the pace of feeding so baby swallows less air. During breast or bottle feeds, lift baby upright from time to time, rest them gently on your shoulder and burp so the air can escape and not press on the tummy. You can stroke their back to help them relax. When breastfeeding, try burping when switching sides.
With good breastfeeding technique, babies don’t swallow excess air. If feeding at the breast is tricky, a breastfeeding counsellor can help you perfect the latch.
How do you know baby is latched well? When:
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They take not only the nipple, but also part of the areola, sealing onto the breast
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The lips flare outwards
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The tip of the nose and the chin touch mum’s breast
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Breastfeeding isn’t painful for mum
During feeds, air and milk layer in the stomach. To help the air escape, alongside keeping baby upright, it’s useful to hold them horizontally at times as well. Changing positions can help the air shift and release. In a horizontal hold, gentle rocking relaxes your baby’s muscles, stomach and whole body.
For bottle-fed babies who hiccup often, prevention may be helped by keeping them a little more upright while feeding.
If your little one has been hiccupping for a long while and it won’t settle, try picking up and soothing, or breastfeeding. You can try burping too. Don’t use popular tricks – no lemon juice in the mouth, and never pinch their nose – these cause unnecessary, intense sensations for a tiny baby and can be dangerous.
A baby’s hiccups are a natural occurrence often linked to feeding, so with a few simple approaches – especially burping – you can try to reduce how often they happen if the frequency bothers you. Otherwise, they don’t cause problems. If hiccups come with other symptoms, speak to your GP.
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