You’re sitting there, finally, in the quiet. The house is still, the lights are low, and your newborn is drifting off. Then it starts. That rhythmic, tiny hic that makes their whole little body jump. It feels like it lasts forever. You start worrying. Is it hurting them? Are they getting enough air? Can they sleep through this? Honestly, watching those little spasms can be pretty distressing for a new parent. But here’s the thing: your baby probably doesn't care at all. Most of the time, they’ll even sleep right through a bout of hiccups like nothing is happening.
If you are looking for how to get rid of hiccups newborn style, you have to understand that their bodies are basically works in progress. Their diaphragm—that thin muscle at the bottom of the chest that helps us breathe—is a bit touchy. It’s sensitive. It’s also sitting right next to the stomach. When that stomach gets full of milk or air, it pokes the diaphragm, and boom: hiccups. It’s a physical reflex, not a sign of distress.
The Science of Why Newborns Hiccup So Much
It’s actually kind of wild how much time babies spend hiccuping. Some researchers, like those at University College London, have suggested that these hiccups might actually help the baby's brain learn how to monitor breathing muscles. They found that every time a newborn hiccups, it triggers a large wave of brain activity. This might be how the brain starts to link the sensation of the diaphragm moving with the physical action of breathing. So, in a weird way, those annoying noises might be a "brain training" session.
Basically, the diaphragm is controlled by the phrenic nerve. In newborns, this nerve is "irritable." It doesn't take much to set it off. A quick temperature change? Hiccups. Swallowing a bit too much air during a frantic feeding? Hiccups. Even just being a little too excited or overstimulated can trigger them. It’s not like adult hiccups where we feel like we’re choking or in pain. For a baby, it’s just another Tuesday.
Most babies will experience this several times a day. It’s especially common in the first six months of life. If you noticed your baby hiccuping while you were still pregnant, you already know the drill. They’ve been practicing this since the second trimester. It’s a very old reflex.
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How to Get Rid of Hiccups Newborn Tips That Actually Work
When you're in the middle of a hiccup fit, you want a solution. Now. But first, a huge warning: never use adult "cures" on a baby. No scaring them. No pulling their tongue. No holding their breath. No sipping water upside down. Their bodies aren't built for that, and you could actually hurt them.
One of the most effective ways to stop the cycle is to change the way they eat. If they are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding and start hiccuping, stop. Just pause. Sit them upright. Try to get a burp out of them. Burping releases that trapped air in the stomach that is likely pressing on the diaphragm. Once the pressure is gone, the hiccups usually taper off.
Slow Down the Feed
Speed is the enemy here. If the milk is coming out of the bottle too fast, the baby gulps. Gulping leads to air. Air leads to—you guessed it—hiccups. If you’re bottle-feeding, maybe try a "slow flow" nipple. If you’re breastfeeding and have a heavy let-down, you might try expressing a little milk first so the baby doesn't get hit with a firehose of milk right away.
Use a Pacifier
This one is a bit of a secret weapon. The rhythmic sucking of a pacifier can actually help relax the diaphragm. It’s like a reset button for the nervous system. If the hiccups start and the baby is finished eating, offer the pacifier for a few minutes.
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Sugar Water? Maybe.
You might hear your grandmother mention sugar water. There is actually some old-school medical backing for this, though most doctors prefer you stick to milk or a pacifier. The idea is that the sweetness distracts the vagus nerve. If you go this route, we're talking a tiny, tiny amount on a finger or a pacifier, but always check with your pediatrician first because newborns really shouldn't have extra water or sugar in their diets.
When Hiccups Might Mean Something Else
We need to talk about GERD. That stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. While most hiccups are harmless, if your baby is hiccuping constantly and seems to be in pain, it might be reflux.
Look for these signs:
- Arching the back during or after feedings.
- Crying or acting extremely fussy when the hiccups start.
- Spitting up more than "normal" (though what is normal for a baby is a huge range).
- Coughing or wheezing.
If the hiccups are accompanied by these symptoms, it’s not just a "tickle" in the diaphragm. The stomach acid is coming back up and irritating the esophagus. Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, a well-known pediatrician, often points out that if the baby is gaining weight and is generally a "happy spitter," the hiccups are rarely a medical concern. But if they aren't gaining weight or seem miserable, it's time for a doctor's visit.
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Practical Steps to Prevent Future Bouts
You can't stop hiccups forever. They’re going to happen. But you can definitely reduce the frequency. It’s all about air management.
Try "paced bottle feeding." This is where you keep the bottle horizontal so the baby has to work a bit harder to get the milk, preventing that "firehose" effect. Also, try to burp them more often. Don't wait until the end of the 4-ounce bottle. Burp them after every ounce. If you're breastfeeding, burp them when you switch sides.
Wait. Don't lay them flat right after a meal. Keep them upright for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Gravity is your friend here. It keeps the milk down and the air up where it can be easily burped out.
Sometimes, doing nothing is the best move. Seriously. If your baby isn't crying, just let the hiccups run their course. They usually stop on their own within 5 to 10 minutes. Use that time to just cuddle them. The warmth of your body and your heartbeat can help them stay calm, which prevents the hiccups from getting worse due to crying.
Actionable Checklist for Parents:
- Pause the feeding the moment hiccups start.
- Burp the baby immediately to release stomach pressure.
- Offer a pacifier to encourage rhythmic sucking and diaphragm relaxation.
- Check the bottle nipple to ensure it isn't flowing too quickly.
- Keep the baby upright for 20 minutes after every single feed.
- Stay calm. Your stress can make the baby tense, which makes the hiccups last longer.
- Track the duration. If hiccups last for hours or occur with every single meal and cause crying, call your pediatrician to rule out reflux.
Newborn hiccups are basically a rite of passage. They are a sign that your baby's nervous system is developing and that their little body is learning how to handle the "outside world." As long as they are growing and generally happy, you can view those little hics as just another part of the chaotic, beautiful newborn phase. Focus on slow feedings and plenty of burps, and eventually, their diaphragm will mature enough to stop being so sensitive.