About how to get rid of baby hiccups，When you have a new baby, you worry about many things. This world is new for you, and you want to make sure to do it right. Everyone gets hiccups, but you might wonder if a newborn getting them is normal. Rest assured, hiccups in newborns are normal. They do not usually indicate other problems. When hiccups happen in babies, they typically go away on their own after a few minutes. If your baby seems uncomfortable or the hiccups are lasting a long time, here are some tips on how to help prevent and how to get rid of baby hiccups.
1. How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–Causes of Hiccups in Babies
Hiccups start in babies before they are even born. You may have noticed them when your baby was still in utero. Later in pregnancy, you can feel your baby hiccup, and they may have felt like quick and even flutters in your uterus. Whether in the womb or out, hiccups are usually no cause for concern. Hiccups occur when your baby’s diaphragm, the muscle at the bottom of the chest, gets irritated. For example, it may become annoyed if your baby is excited or nervous about something, or if they just eat too quickly or too much.
When this happens, the diaphragm contracts and causes air to get sucked in with more force than a normal breath. This air hitting the vocal cords and causing them to close quickly causes the hiccuping sound.
（Mom helping baby to exclude the air, to avoid hiccups）
2. How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–Tips to Stop Your Baby’s Hiccups
Stop and burp your baby.
If your baby begins hiccuping while they are eating, stop feeding them and burp your baby. This action will help them release excess air.
Reevaluate your baby’s latch.
If you are breastfeeding your baby and they are swallowing a lot of air, reevaluate the latch. Your baby’s lips should seal around the areola. Make sure your baby has enough in their mouth and not just the nipple.
How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–Reposition bottle.
If you are bottle-feeding your baby and swallowing air seems to be the issue, try repositioning the bottle. Make sure that the air is not near the nipple but at the bottom of the bottle.
Gently pat the baby’s back.
Rubbing the baby in a circular motion can help as well. This motion can help release the excess air causing your baby’s hiccups.
Provide pacifiers for your baby.
A pacifier can help when your baby has hiccups by lessening the diaphragm spasms.
How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–Change positions.
You can also try changing up your baby’s position. This method will not always work, but it might be worth trying. You can have your baby lay down or prop them up into sitting and see what helps.
Wait it out.
If your baby’s hiccups are not bothering them, you can wait it out. Babies under one year of age can hiccup often and will usually stop on their own.
3. How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–What Can’t We do if the Baby Hiccups
In addition, there are some methods or myths out there about getting rid of hiccups that you should avoid:
- They are scaring away hiccups.
One of the most common methods that people talk about is scaring away the hiccups. Do not startle or scare your baby on purpose to get rid of hiccups. You will probably make the baby cry, and it will not work anyway.
- They are trying to get your baby to hold their breath.
Another thing that people talk about is holding your breath to get rid of hiccups. This method is a terrible idea for a baby. Above all, it is dangerous. Do not do this to your child.
- A wet cloth
A wet cloth on your baby’s forehead will not get rid of hiccups.
- Pulling on the baby’s tongue
There is another method out there about pulling on a baby’s tongue while pressing on the soft part of their head. This method is not safe and can hurt your baby as well.
（Help your baby using the right way）
4. How to Prevent Hiccups
How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–Feeding posture:
For breastfed babies, make sure they are latching correctly. They may be swallowing too much air if they only latch onto the nipple. This latch is incorrect and needs to be corrected. It will also cause you pain. Make sure that the baby is forming a seal around both the nipple and areola. If you have questions about your baby’s latch, reach out to a lactation consultant.
For bottle-fed babies, Make sure that you tip the bottle while feeding. The air should be in the bottom of the bottle, not by the nipple. This position will help make sure your baby is not swallowing too much air. You should also take a look at the bottle itself. Some bottles trap more air than others.
Make sure your baby is calm.
Your baby should be calm when you feed them. Do not wait until they are starving and already upset. If they are upset, they may swallow more air and contribute to the problem.
Avoid eating too much or too fast.
If your baby is eating too much or too quickly, you may need to adjust your feedings to help prevent hiccups. Reduce the amount you give your baby at once and see if it makes a difference.
How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–Take breaks during feedings to burp.
Burping will help get rid of the excess air bubbles that can form when your baby eats.
Avoid a lot of active play right after feeding.
Do not have a ton of active play right after your baby eats. Bouncing them up and down right after eating can cause hiccups.
How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups–Sit the baby up after feeding.
Having your baby sit up for about 20 or 30 minutes after feeding can help lessen the frequency of hiccups.
5. Under What Circumstances do We Need to See a Doctor?
Most often, hiccups are not a cause for concern. They are a perfectly normal thing that happens to everyone, but there are some reasons that you may want to talk to your baby’s doctor about their hiccups.
If your baby has hiccups often and is in pain or vomits after feedings, you should talk to your doctor. These symptoms could mean that your baby has acid reflux or other digestive issues. Acid reflux, or GERD, should be checked out by a doctor to rule out other underlying medical conditions. You should also talk to a doctor if your baby still hiccups often after their first birthday or the hiccups are disturbing their sleep.
If your baby has problems breathing due to hiccups or turns blue, call 911 immediately.
Conclusion
Hiccups are not usually a problem in infants, but there are things you can do to help get rid of baby hiccups or even prevent them. In general, baby hiccuping is normal and will decrease as your baby gets older. Follow the tips above to make your baby comfortable while feeding, and you should not have as much trouble with how to get rid of baby hiccups.