What to do if your baby has hiccups
You
may notice that your baby often hiccups. This is completely normal and usually
nothing to worry about.
What causes hiccups
Hiccups
are one of the first habits your baby will develop. Hiccups are essential for
your baby's brain development and breathing.
Babies
cannot control their hiccups. Hiccups are a reflex that occurs when the
diaphragm causes the vocal cords to open and close rapidly. They usually occur
when you eat, drink or experience stressful situations.
Hiccups
are common in babies. Most newborns hiccup quite often, which may be a sign
that your baby is healthy and growing well.
What to do if your baby has hiccups
Children
are usually not bothered by hiccups and may even eat and sleep when hiccups
occur. Usually, an episode of hiccups goes away on its own within 5-10 minutes,
making treatment unnecessary.
If
your baby's hiccups are bothering you, there are a few strategies that can help
stop it early or prevent it entirely:
- Burp your baby during feeding. Babies may begin to hiccup while
feeding because they have excess gas, which irritates the stomach.
Straightening and a gentle pat on the back may help.
- Slow down feeding. If you notice that your baby still
hiccups while feeding, you may be feeding too fast. Slowing down can reduce the
chance of your baby having hiccups.
- Feed only when your baby is calm. Try to feed your baby before he
gets hungry and starts crying. If your baby is upset during a feed, the milk or
formula may not flow smoothly, which can irritate the esophagus.
- Hold your baby upright after
feeding. The
upright position helps ensure good digestion for your baby.
- Make sure the bottle nipple is
completely filled with milk while breastfeeding. If you are bottle feeding, reduce
the amount of air in the nipple before feeding your baby. The extra air can
make the hiccups worse.
- Fit the right size pacifier for
your baby. If
you are bottle feeding, make sure the flow from the nipple is neither too fast
nor too slow for your baby. The correct flow may depend on your baby's age, so
you may need to change your bottle teats every few months.
- Get a good latch. If you are breastfeeding, make
sure your baby is latching onto the nipple properly.
You
may need to see a doctor if your baby does not stop hiccup for a very long time
or if he feels uncomfortable during hiccups.
Be
careful when using home remedies for hiccups. Many websites may recommend that
you use products that are suitable for adults but not for children. Your baby's
esophagus and stomach are delicate, so make sure the products you use are safe.
Hiccups are normal and usually do not harm your baby. In young children, hiccups are usually a sign that they need to sit up straight during or after feedings, that feedings should be slower for them, or that they need more time before or after feedings to relax. If your baby has prolonged hiccups, there is no cause for concern. Seek medical attention if your baby looks sick or does not stop hiccupping for several hours.