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How to Get Rid of Newborn Baby Hiccups

How to Get Rid of Newborn Hiccups

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Medically Reviewed by Lauren Crosby, M.D., F.A.A.P.

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on June 14, 2021

Does your newborn have the hiccups? Learn about this normal occurrence and what to do if your baby often hiccups during feedings.

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Whether you felt them during pregnancy or they're a whole new experience, newborn hiccups can come as a surprise to you — and your baby.

Startling as baby hiccups are at first, they're likely bothering you much more than your newborn. That said, there are a few tricks to know to keep these noisy spasms at bay.

How do you get rid of newborn hiccups?

You probably know about a dozen "cures" for a case of the hiccups as an adult, but these tricks won't work on your newborn (offering water, for instance, can be dangerous for babies under 6 months old — plus babies can't yet consciously regulate their breathing or swallowing the way an adult can).

So what's the best way to deal with newborn hiccups? Wait them out. If you're worried that your baby's hiccups are bothering him, you can try feeding him or letting him suck on a pacifier, which may quell the attack.

How to stop newborn hiccups during feedings

If you notice your baby gets hiccups more frequently during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, there are a couple of tricks you can try:

  • Take a break. A change of positions, a burp or even just a little relaxation can help calm hiccups. If, after a few minutes, your baby's hiccups haven't eased up, feeding your baby again may calm him down.
  • Switch up your routine. If your baby hiccups frequently, try feeding your baby smaller amounts at more frequent intervals, which can help keep him from swallowing as much air during each feeding time.
  • Burp more frequently.If you're bottle-feeding, try burping your baby more frequently, such as after every 1 or 2 oz.

Why do newborn babies get hiccups?

It's perfectly normal for a newborn to get a case of the hiccups. In fact, some babies even get the hiccups before they're born, starting around month 6 of your pregnancy, when your baby's lungs start developing (if you ever noticed regular little spasms in your abdomen, that's what they likely were).

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Chances are, if your baby hiccupped a lot on the inside, he'll hiccup plenty in the first few months on the outside, too. But even if you didn't notice your baby practicing his hiccups before he was born, newborn hiccups are not uncommon and are not a cause for concern.

Just like with adults, there's no single cause for newborn hiccups — although there are theories. Hiccups may be brought on by air trapped in little stomachs during a feeding. They may also simply be yet another in baby's repertoire of reflexes. Later on, giggles may bring on the hiccups.

Sometimes, hiccups can be a sign of infant GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), or acid reflux, where stomach acid flows back up the esophagus. But babies with GERD will have other symptoms, too, such as arching of the back while feeding, crying while feeding, being irritable in general, spitting up and coughing. If you notice these symptoms, contact your pediatrician.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th Edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Giving Water to a Baby, May 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Infant GERD and Acid Reflux in Babies, April 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Gripe Water, November 2020.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics, Why Babies Spit Up, April 2019.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, August 2020.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus, Hiccups, June 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Bioessays, Hiccups: A New Explanation for the Mysterious Reflex, February 2012.

How to Get Rid of Newborn Baby Hiccups

Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/hiccups