How To Cure Your Baby’s Hiccups Blues, Because You Know They Hate It

It doesn’t take a Google search to know that there are a variety of ways to cure hiccups, each one more ridiculous than the next. From holding your breath till you’re blue to drinking hot sauce till you’re red, adults will try anything to get rid of hiccups. But babies don’t have that luxury, seeing as they aren’t in control of their bodies or great at following directions. But, as every adult knows, hiccups can be bothersome and it’s important that you find out how to cure your baby’s hiccups.

Yes, most of the time hiccups are harmless. As Mayo Clinic notes, they are merely an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm that occur after a large meal or even a sudden bout of excitement. Even babies in utero can get hiccups as their reflexes develop. But there are a few instances where hiccupping may indicate a more concerning problem, especially when coming from a baby. Most cases of the hiccups should only last a few minutes, so if your baby consistently hiccups for an hour or more, it’s a good idea to check with a doctor. According to Healthline, this may be the result of something simple like a sore throat, or it may be a symptom of a digestive problem such as gastroesophageal reflux, a kidney problem, or even diabetes. At any rate, chronic hiccups are a good reason to visit your physician.

To know how to handle your baby’s hiccups, it’s important to learn a few facts about this quirky bodily function.

Why Does My Baby Hiccup After Feedings?

You may notice your baby hiccuping immediately after a feeding. That’s because, as Parenting notes, swallowing extra air can cause the diaphragm to go into spasms. Also, because the diaphragm muscle lies close to the stomach, a full stomach may also cause your baby to hiccup like crazy.

How Can I Prevent My Baby From Hiccupping?

If you find your baby is irritated by their hiccups, there are few things you can do to try to eliminate them. New Kids Center recommends feeding your baby more frequently at shorter intervals to make for a calmer meal and prevent them from ingesting extra air. If you bottle feed, you may want to consider using bottles with collapsable bag inserts to limit air intake during feedings.

How Can I Soothe My Baby’s Hiccups?

Although there’s no medical science backing to these cures, it may help to give your newborn a sip of water to help their diaphragm calm down. Giving your baby a pacifier may also help soothe those persistent hiccups by giving your baby something else to focus on.

Do Babies In Utero Hiccup?

The Bump notes that it’s totally normal and common for infants in utero to experience the hiccups. The expectant mother may notice her child’s hiccups as a small, repetitive jerk. These prenatal hiccups are normal and caused by the baby’s reflex reaction from breathing and swallowing. In fact, some researchers propose that hiccups are a fetal digestive reflex to guard against breathing in amniotic fluid while in the womb.

Should I Make Adorable GIFs Of My Hiccupping Baby?

Absolutely. And send them all to me.