Why Do Babies Have Hiccups?

Ever wondered why your baby gets those cute little hiccups? Babies seem to hiccup all the time, and while it might look adorable, it can leave parents scratching their heads. Don’t worry—it’s totally normal! But why do they happen so often, and should you be concerned?

What Are Hiccups?

In babies, hiccups occur similarly to adults due to the sudden contraction of the diaphragm muscle and closure of the vocal cords at the same time. They are very common in infants and very often happen after feeding, when the stomach becomes distended or when they swallow more air while feeding. It can stimulate the diaphragm, leading to hiccups on a regular interval and regular basis. 

Why Do Hiccups Happen?

Babies have immature nervous systems and their reflexes may also contribute to their frequent occurrences of hiccups. While hiccups in infants are usually harmless and resolve on their own, parents can try burping, adjusting feeding positions, or offering other methods  to alleviate discomfort associated with hiccups. Many parents are scared if the hiccups are happening too often

What Should We Do When Hiccups Happen?

When hiccups occur often, we can try calming the baby with gentle rocking or holding them upright and patting the back from bottom to up direction. Always encouraging slow-paced feeding may help alleviate hiccups. Burping the baby after feeding helps in ensuring a calm environment which can also aid in resolving hiccups naturally.

Why Do Hiccups Occur So Regularly?

Continuous hiccups in babies can occur due to under nervous system development, frequent swallowing of air during feeding along with improper latch, overfeeding, or gastroesophageal reflux which can be identified by the pediatrician only. In rare cases, underlying medical conditions affecting the nervous system or gastrointestinal tract may be contributed. If hiccups are persistent or are accompanied by other symptoms, seeking a doctor’s help will be helpful

What To Stop Hiccups?

To stop hiccups in babies, try burping them after feed, adjusting feeding positions, or offering a different position is definitely going to help them. Calming techniques like gentle rocking or holding the baby upright may help. If hiccups persist, ensure a calm environment, and avoid overfeeding.