It happens right after a good feeding. You’ve finally got them settled, the house is quiet, and then you hear it. That rhythmic, jerky little hic that makes their whole tiny body jump. If you’re a new parent, it’s kinda startling. You might worry they’re in pain or that they can’t breathe right. But honestly? Your baby probably doesn't even notice. Most of the time, they’ll sleep right through a bout of hiccups like nothing is happening at all.
Hiccups are basically just a localized spasm of the diaphragm. That’s the dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of the chest. When it gets irritated, it snaps shut, and the vocal cords close quickly, creating that signature sound. In infants, this is incredibly common. In fact, many babies start hiccuping in the womb; you might have felt those rhythmic thumps against your ribs months before you ever met your little one.
Understanding the "Why" Before You Fix the "How"
Before we get into helping an infant get rid of hiccups, we have to talk about why they’re happening. It’s usually not a medical mystery. Most infant hiccups are caused by overfeeding or swallowing too much air. When a baby drinks too fast or gulps down air along with their milk, their stomach distends. Because a baby’s anatomy is so compact, that full stomach pushes right up against the diaphragm. The diaphragm gets annoyed. It starts twitching.
There’s also the neurological side of things. An infant’s nervous system is still "under construction," so to speak. The signals between the brain and the diaphragm aren't always perfectly synchronized yet. Dr. Lynnette Mazur, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center, has noted that these spasms are just a normal part of development. They aren't a sign of distress.
Is it Reflux?
Sometimes, hiccups are a side effect of Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER). If your baby is hiccuping constantly and it’s paired with spitting up, coughing, or extreme irritability, the stomach acid might be irritating the esophagus. In these cases, the hiccups are just a symptom of the underlying reflux. But for the vast majority of "happy spitters," hiccups are just a laundry-day nuisance rather than a health crisis.
📖 Related: How to Use Kegel Balls: What Most People Get Wrong About Pelvic Floor Training
Practical Ways of Helping an Infant Get Rid of Hiccups
You want to help. I get it. It looks uncomfortable. While you can't exactly tell a three-month-old to hold their breath or drink water upside down, there are a few gentle ways to settle that diaphragm down.
The Burping Break
This is the gold standard. If your baby starts hiccuping during a feeding, stop. Don’t wait for them to finish the bottle or the breast. Switch them to a burping position immediately. By getting the excess gas out of the stomach, you reduce the pressure on the diaphragm. Sometimes a good, solid burp is all it takes to reset the system.
Check the Nipple Flow
If you're bottle-feeding, the equipment might be the culprit. If the hole in the nipple is too large, the milk flows too fast. The baby gulps to keep up. If it's too small, they suck air around the edges of the nipple out of frustration. You want a steady drip, not a stream and not a struggle. Finding that "Goldilocks" flow can prevent the air-gulping that leads to hiccups in the first place.
The Pacifier Trick
Sucking can actually help relax the diaphragm. It’s a rhythmic motion that can sometimes override the erratic spasms of a hiccup fit. If your baby is already finished eating and starts hiccuping, offering a pacifier for a few minutes might do the trick. It's gentle, and it often helps them transition into sleep even if the hiccups persist for a minute or two.
👉 See also: Fruits that are good to lose weight: What you’re actually missing
Upright Time
Keep them vertical. Gravity is your best friend here. After a feeding, try to keep your infant upright for at least 20 to 30 minutes. This helps the milk settle and keeps the stomach from pressing against the chest cavity. You can wear them in a carrier or just snuggle them against your shoulder. Just avoid the "bouncy seat" immediately after a meal, as that rhythmic jiggling can actually make hiccups (and spit-up) worse.
What You Should Absolutely Avoid
We’ve all heard the "old wives' tales." Some of them are harmless but silly, while others are actually dangerous for a newborn. When it comes to helping an infant get rid of hiccups, please ignore the advice your great-aunt might give you about scaring the baby.
- Do Not Scare Them. A baby’s nervous system doesn’t need a "shock" to reset. You’ll just end up with a crying baby who still has hiccups.
- No Tongue Pulling. There is an old myth that pulling on a baby’s tongue stops hiccups. It doesn't. It just hurts.
- Skip the Water. Infants under six months should generally not have water. It can interfere with their electrolyte balance and fills them up with zero-calorie liquid they don't need.
- No Breath Holding. It sounds obvious, but never try to plug a baby’s nose or mouth to stop hiccups.
When Should You Actually Worry?
Most hiccups are a "wait it out" situation. They usually vanish within 5 to 10 minutes on their own. However, there are a few edge cases where you should pick up the phone and call the pediatrician.
If the hiccups are so frequent or intense that they interfere with your baby’s ability to sleep or eat, that's a red flag. Also, if your baby seems to be in actual pain—arching their back, screaming, or turning red during the hiccups—it’s worth a professional look. This could point toward a more severe case of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), if hiccups persist for more than 48 hours, it’s time for a medical evaluation to rule out any rare underlying irritations of the nerves.
✨ Don't miss: Resistance Bands Workout: Why Your Gym Memberships Are Feeling Extra Expensive Lately
But honestly? That's rare. Most of the time, the baby is fine. You're the one who is stressed.
The "Wait it Out" Philosophy
Sometimes the best way of helping an infant get rid of hiccups is to do absolutely nothing. If the baby isn't crying, you don't necessarily need to intervene. Babies are remarkably resilient. They spent nine months curled in a ball in a dark room; a few minutes of diaphragm spasms isn't going to ruin their day. If they’re happy, let them be.
Actionable Steps for the Next Feeding
To keep the hiccups at bay, try shifting your routine just a little bit.
- Feed before they are "starving." If a baby is crying and frantic for food, they are much more likely to swallow air. Try to catch their early hunger cues—rooting, sucking on hands—before the full-blown meltdown starts.
- Tilt the bottle. If bottle-feeding, make sure the nipple is always full of milk, not air. This sounds basic, but in the middle of the night at 3 AM, it’s easy to get the angle wrong.
- Smaller, more frequent meals. If your baby is a "pro-hiccuper," try cutting the volume of each feeding but increasing the frequency. A less-full stomach is a less-irritated diaphragm.
- Listen for the "gulp." If you hear a loud clicking or gulping sound while they eat, their latch might be off. Re-latch them to ensure a tight seal.
Hiccups are a rite of passage. They are one of those "baby things" that seem much bigger than they are because everything with a newborn feels high-stakes. Just remember: it's a muscle twitch, not a malady. Keep them upright, keep them calm, and keep the burp cloths handy. You’re doing fine.