ARE HICCUPS NORMAL IN BABIES? 

Written by: Caroline Meyer

Hiccups are very common in little ones. It can be a regular occurrence when they are under 1 year old. Some babies even hiccup while they are still in the womb. Hiccups are generally nothing to be concerned about. They are not related to breathing. They are contractions caused by stimulation or irritation of the diaphragm muscles. 

What causes hiccups? 

Most babies are not bothered by hiccups and they seldom cry or get upset by them. The noise we hear is caused by air pushing past closed vocal cords. Babies get hiccups more often than adults as they tend to gasp or gulp more often causing spasming of the diaphragm. Some possible causes include eating too fast, swallowing air while eating, drinking or crying and overfeeding. There is no actual scientific cause for hiccups though. 

How can you stop hiccups? 

Some of the recommendations for adults include drinking upside down, getting a fright or eating a spoon of sugar.  These are not remedies you can use for new-borns and babies.  So, what can you do? Generally, if you wait a while the hiccups will usually stop on their own. You can offer a pacifier or burp baby if they seem a little niggly. You can also rock baby gently or walk up and down with them to relax them and hopefully stop the hiccups. Gripe water is not recommended for little ones under 6 months. 

Are hiccups preventable? 

It might not be possible to prevent hiccups. If you find your baby gets hiccups in certain circumstances such as after crying for a while or after eating if they were very hungry, you can mediate some of these situations. Feed you baby when he is hungry. Reduce bouts of crying by attending to baby as soon as possible. Burp regularly while feeding.  Don’t overfeed your baby. Try and feed your baby when they are calm and relaxed.  Screaming and crying or being overly hungry can often result in hiccups. Keep baby upright for 20 minutes or so after eating. After they have finished eating don’t bounce them or play energetically for at least a half hour. 

Can hiccups be a sign of a health problem? 

People are often concerned that hiccups may be a symptom of a tongue tie or reflux. Reflux is quite common in babies and usually not a cause for concern if it only happens occasionally. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a lot rarer and is a constant problem with stomach acids coming up the oesophagus continually. This can be quite painful for the baby. If you suspect this problem or other issues, you should take it up with your doctor to ensure there are no underlying problems. If hiccups are continual, there is any vomiting or your baby gets upset by them, you might want to talk to your doctor as well to rule out other problems. 

In general hiccups are harmless and nothing to worry about. By the time your baby is a year old, you will probably find that hiccups happen very seldom. Hiccups that are constant after this age may also be a result of another condition. If you are even unsure or have concerns, you should speak to your doctor. They can check for possible problems and set your mind at ease.