How to stop and prevent baby hiccups

Hiccups happen when the diaphragm (which is the muscle at the base of the lungs that helps regulate breathing) spasms. That spasm causes the diaphragm’s normal contractions to be out of sync with the lungs. Extra air rushes into the lungs and causes that recognisable ‘hic’ sound³.

There are lots of different things that can send your baby’s diaphragm out of sync and lead to hiccups. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes.

If your baby is breastfeeding or bottle-feeding very quickly (for example, if they’re very hungry), they can be more likely to swallow air⁴. This can cause their diaphragm to contract too quickly and lead to hiccups⁵.

You can’t overfeed a breastfed baby, but if you’re bottle-feeding, it’s something to be aware of^6,7. If your baby has had a little too much milk, their tummy can become too full and touch their diaphragm. This can cause spasms, which we know as hiccups⁴.

Sudden temperature changes in your baby’s tummy can lead to hiccups⁵. If they’re starting to eat solid foods, this can happen if they eat something warm followed by something very cold straight away.

Even in adults, strong emotions like excitement can lead to hiccups⁵. You might notice that your baby gets hiccups if they’ve been laughing or crying, or if they’ve been otherwise worked up.

Most of the time, your baby’s hiccups should go away on their own. If you like, you can also try these tips for how to prevent hiccups in newborns and babies.

Burping (or winding) your baby can help release trapped wind that they’ve swallowed during a feed. Hold your baby upright against your body after a feed and gently rub their back. You can also try walking around while holding your baby and gently bouncing them⁸.

You can burp your baby after a feed, or even take breaks during a feed to help release any trapped air.

Holding your baby upright for up to 20 minutes after a feed instead of laying them down can aid their digestion and help prevent hiccups.

If your baby regularly has hiccups after feeding, you might want to try some other feeding positions. It may be that they’re not latching securely, or that they’re swallowing air when feeding, and changing position may help.

Waiting to feed your baby until they’re very hungry or upset can mean that they feed more quickly and swallow more air, which can lead to hiccups. Over time, you’ll become attuned to your baby’s signs of hunger before they become upset, which will make feeds easier and potentially help prevent hiccups⁹.

If you’re breastfeeding, it might take some time for you and your baby to get used to latching securely at first. When your baby has latched on to your breast properly, you should see more of your areola above their top lip than below their bottom lip, and their cheeks should appear full¹⁰.

Secure attachment when breastfeeding can help stop your baby from swallowing air. It can also prevent breastfeeding problems such as cracked nipples and help your baby get enough milk¹⁰.

If you’re feeding your baby from a bottle, they won’t have as much control over the milk flow as they do when breastfeeding, so you’ll need to give them a helping hand. Keep the bottle horizontal and just slightly tipped to let the milk flow steadily and prevent the teat from filling with air that your baby could swallow⁷.

Babies’ stomachs are tiny, especially when they’re very young, so they are likely to need smaller feeds more often. Feeding your baby whenever they’re hungry and stopping when they show signs of being full can prevent overfeeding in bottle-fed babies and may help them avoid getting hiccups⁹.

Some parents find that giving their baby a dummy helps to soothe hiccups. It’s thought that this is because the sucking reflex helps regulate their breathing and control their diaphragm.

If you’re breastfeeding your baby, it’s best to wait until you’re both comfortable with feeds before introducing a dummy¹¹. Not all babies enjoy using dummies, and you shouldn’t force them if they’re not interested.

Hiccups can also be a symptom of reflux in babies, which is very common and usually gets better on its own. Reflux happens when your baby brings up milk during or shortly after feeds.

Other symptoms can include:

• Crying and fussiness
• Refusing to feed
• Not gaining weight
• Arching their back during feeds
• Coughing or gagging
• Frequent chest infections

Reflux happens when the valve at the top of the stomach as a weak action due to an immature digestive system. In time it gets better on its own as the valve gets stronger¹².

If your baby’s reflux is more severe, it may be gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD, which can require treatment¹³. Speak to your GP or health visitor who will be able to give you more advice.