Baby hiccups are a different kind of alarm tone for mothers. The baby looks at the peacefully sleeping mother, he clears his throat and HICCUP! The mother springs up and the baby goes on hiccup-ing. What a clever baby, isn’t it?
Usually, when someone hiccups, we ask them to stick out their tongues or we try scaring them. . These are the usual remedies for hiccups in adults, yes, but babies are a little different. In babies, the first hiccup may sound cute and the next one too, but the cute game ends with the third hiccup.
Being a mother, you can’t just stand there and watch your baby hiccuping. You’ve got to do something! Neither can you ask your baby to stick his tongue out nor can you say ‘boo’! Most often, mothers try to figure out why their babies are hiccuping.
But before you jump to any conclusions, we will tell you why your baby gets hiccups.
What Causes Babies To Hiccup?
Baby hiccups are caused by the quick contraction of the diaphragm and the closing of the vocal cords. This rapid closing of the vocal cords creates the sound of hiccups. According to doctors, baby hiccups are a normal occurrence. Overfeeding the baby often leads to hiccups in newborns.
When babies are excited, they start giggling and so start hiccuping. There is no room for worry when this happens. After feeding time, they tend to hiccup at least three to four times a day. It is quite natural for a baby to hiccup for these similar reasons as long as they are occasional.
But if you find your baby on a bout of hiccups very frequently, then you ought to visit a pediatrician.
How To Get Rid Of Baby Hiccups?
Hiccups are bothersome to adults, but they do not bother babies to a great extent. A baby can sleep through such hiccups. But it becomes necessary to get rid of them anyways because if hiccups cross the line, they can be risky for your baby. Let’s take a look into some of the best ways to stop baby hiccups.
1. Gentle Pats
When babies have hiccups, the most common way is to gently pat their backs to get rid of any hindrances. But always keep in mind to not hit or pat with too much force.
2. Burp Your Baby
While feeding, it is really helpful if you take a break to burp your baby. Burps help get rid of the excess gas in your baby’s tummy. This can prevent the major cause of baby hiccups. Burping also places your baby in an upright position.
If your baby is being breastfed, it is suggested that you burp your baby after they switch breasts.
3. Use A Pacifier
Pacifiers can be of great help when it comes to baby hiccups. The quick contraction of the diaphragm can be eased if you allow your baby to suck on a pacifier. This can relax your baby as well as the hiccups.
4. Do Nothing
Sometimes, it is okay to just let your baby do their thing. Hiccups do stop after a short while. Since, they don’t bother your babies as much as you think, you can go on with your chores while having an eye on the baby.
But if the hiccups are unstoppable even after you thought it would end, let the doctor know.
5. Give Them Gripe Water
Gripe water is a combination of herbs and water which helps the baby with digestion. The herbs include ginger, fennel, chamomile, and cinnamon. If your baby goes on hiccuping, such organic baby formulas can be an effective solution.
Drinking gripe water can help the baby with any intestinal discomforts. But before you try this with your baby, make sure you consult the baby’s doctor.
6. Feed Your Baby On Time
Don’t wait for the baby to start crying when they are hungry. This leads to an extra amount of air intake. If you feed a crying baby, it is more likely that they swallow air along with the food which leads to hiccups.
Air swallowing is another important cause of baby hiccups. To avoid that, feed your baby on time.
7. Make Them Laugh
Babies do a great job at making you laugh., so it’s time to return their favor! When they start hiccupping, make the funniest face to make them laugh. Don’t scare them though. Some babies respond to funny faces and sounds.
Utilize this weakness of the baby to make them go all giggles. As a result, they forget about their hiccups and the mother-baby duo will be back in action.
8. Monitor Your Baby
It is advised that you monitor your baby’s hiccups. This helps you to understand when and why the baby starts hiccuping. If you see them getting hiccups after their feeding time, then make sure you feed your baby in the right position and at the right time.
Since you have now come across the various ways to stop baby hiccups, we will now provide you the best preventive steps for hiccups.
How To Prevent Baby Hiccups?
We can all agree with the saying ‘prevention is better than cure’. It may not be possible to prevent hiccups completely but they can be prevented to a great extent. Especially when it is concerned with babies, it is always best to have a few preventive measures up your sleeves.
So let’s dive into these measures right away!
- After feeding, let your baby rest a while. Babies are often bounced up and down. Why? Well obviously, because they’re adorable! But soon after feeding, if they are engaged in a high-energy play, the odds of them getting hiccups will be really high.
So make sure not to move them too much after they are fed.
- Another great way to prevent hiccups is to keep the baby in an upright position. Keeping babies in this position for about twenty to thirty minutes is an incredible way to prevent any hiccups before they even start.
- Ensure that your baby is completely calm and comfortable while having their meals. Don’t let them cry during this time as it increases the chances of hiccups in babies. Place your baby in their chair, sing them a lullaby and let them eat happily.
- Consult the pediatrician beforehand. Getting frequent checkups done for your baby can help you prevent any serious issue of hiccups. Moreover, the doctor can give you medical advice for your baby’s good health.
- Get your baby vaccinated on time. Parents often delay the normal vaccine schedule out of fear. But it is always best to get them vaccinated to prevent your baby from other serious conditions due to hiccups.
When Do You Have To Take Hiccups Seriously?
Hiccups are normal. Like we said earlier, babies can sleep through mild hiccups. But, the real concern starts when the hiccups grow from being mild to serious. Frequent and non-stop hiccups are considered to be not okay for a baby who is younger than 12 months. Did you know, babies have hiccups when they are still inside the womb?
Baby hiccups in the womb may sound funny, but it’s true. It happens when the baby breathes in amniotic fluid within the amniotic sac. Most mothers can feel the hiccups from outside. Aww! So this whole hiccup episode is totally okay. But till when?
If you notice your baby getting hiccups quite a lot when they are upset or agitated, then this is not normal. This can be an indicator to other medical issues. Waste no time and consult the doctor.
Hiccups can be particularly annoying when we are trying to sleep. If you see hiccups bothering your baby as well, this can be yet another reason as to why you should consult a pediatrician. Moreover, if bouts of hiccups continue even after your baby turns an year old, you should take it seriously.
As we earlier said, make sure you don’t use any of the stereotypical remedies to cure your baby’s hiccups as it doesn’t work in the case of infants. As long as they don’t bother your baby, don’t be worried. But if they seem to be bothering your baby a lot, seek professional help.
In a nutshell, if you see that your baby gets hiccups beyond a certain extent, go visit the doctor. Talk to the doctor about your baby and they’ll help you rule out any other possible causes.
Don’t Let The Hiccups Get You Down!
Now you know the best hacks to ease your baby’s hiccups. Remember to always be gentle with your baby and consult the pediatrician if there seems to be cause for worry.
You can also try out our prevention steps to prevent any possible hiccuping issues.Don’t get too stressed with the thought of baby hiccups, they are a natural occurrence in any baby. Stay calm, and try one of these remedies listed in this article. For further guidance, consult with your pediatrician before using some of these remedies.
At the end of the day, we are all just winging it. Happy parenting!
