Your baby is just as prone to hiccups as you are, but his little tummy takes much longer to get over the involuntary spasm.
While many parents worry that their child has something wrong with them, there’s nothing to it. Babies can experience a bout of hiccups for little reason at all. However, if the hiccups linger or seem particularly bothersome, some tips and tricks may help ease your baby’s discomfort.
This guide explains what causes newborn hiccups, how long they usually last, how to identify when they’re serious, and what can eliminate hiccups.
What Causes Baby Hiccups and How Often They Happen
Hiccups occur quite commonly in babies. Babies tend to experience their clusters, which can be alarming for any parent. Here’s a list of what causes hiccups in babies and how often they occur:
Overfeeding Causes Baby Hiccups
Hiccups are a common symptom of indigestion in babies. They’re caused when a baby’s digestion is disrupted, and one of the most common causes is overfeeding. A baby overeating at once can cause indigestion and excess gasses that irritate the diaphragm and trigger hiccups. These mild hiccups are self-limiting and usually go away as soon as the baby burps.
To prevent hiccups, it’s important to be aware of your baby’s feedings and avoid overfeeding. Keeping your baby in an upright position during feedings can also help reduce the risk of hiccups.
Suppose your infant is experiencing hiccups frequently, accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting. In that case, it may indicate gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and should be discussed with your pediatrician. Your pediatrician may also recommend gripe water or other remedies to help alleviate hiccups.
Swallowing Air While Feeding Causes Baby Hiccups
Hiccups happen when a baby’s esophagus is filled with excess air, and one of the common causes is swallowing air while feeding. When a baby ingests more air than necessary, it can cause discomfort and lead to the characteristic hiccup sound. This excess air can also cause gassiness and tummy problems for your baby.
Excess gas can also be caused by other factors, such as certain foods in the mother’s diet, carbonated drinks, and granulated sugar in the baby’s food. The sucking motion required to drink from a bottle or breast can also cause a baby to swallow more air than necessary.
If your baby exhibits signs of gassiness after feedings–like crying or fussing–it may indicate that they are swallowing too much air and experiencing hiccups. To prevent hiccups, it is important to be aware of your baby’s feeding habits and try to minimize the amount of air they swallow by burping them frequently during feedings (or even before), ensuring that they are held upright during feedings (not lying down).
If your baby continues to experience hiccups frequently, it is always best to consult with your pediatrician to rule out any other underlying causes.
Baby Hiccups Cause by Sudden Change in Temperature
Sudden temperature changes are often responsible for causing hiccups in babies. These include lying down after sitting up, getting out of bed when sleeping, or changing the baby’s diaper. Such changes result in the muscles of your baby’s abdomen contracting to make room for air that is inhaled simultaneously.
When this sudden contraction occurs, the diaphragm jumps up suddenly and causes a spasm of hiccups that are involuntary contractions of your baby’s diaphragm and other muscles around it.
Irritation of the Diaphragm
Hiccups are often signs of respiratory problems in babies, specifically diaphragm spasms. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and is responsible for breathing. In babies, this muscle is sensitive and can easily irritate, resulting in hiccups.
The good news is that hiccups in babies typically only last for a few minutes and can be easily resolved with simple home remedies such as keeping the baby upright during feedings, burping the baby after feedings, and using gentle rubbing or patting on the baby’s back. These actions can help to soothe the diaphragm and stop the spasms.
However, it is always best to consult a pediatrician if hiccups persist for more than a few minutes (or if your baby has other symptoms like vomiting).
Stomach Infection
Stomach infections are common in children and babies, leading to significant problems such as hiccups. The infection, which includes gas and diarrhea, is often caused by a buildup of gas in the stomach, which can cause pain and discomfort.
One common remedy for this type of infection is gripe water, which can be added to the baby’s bottle to help ease the discomfort. Additionally, it’s important to address any underlying condition causing the infection to prevent it from becoming a recurring issue.
Premature Birth
Premature births are the leading cause of hiccups in babies. Premature babies get hiccups for various reasons like dehydration, apnea, infection, etc. Most hiccups can be treated by keeping the baby warm, feeding them a little, and holding them close to prevent suffocation while gasping for air.
Anesthesia During Surgery
The medication used during surgery to make you unconscious can cause hiccups in babies. The same happens when they put a breathing tube in the baby’s mouth before surgery.
Pneumonia
In babies, pneumonia can cause different symptoms, such as trouble breathing. In addition to these signs, hiccups are common in pneumonia infants. A spasm of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles causes hiccups. This is normal at first, but if you notice persistently prolonged hiccups or that they occur often, this may signify that your baby has developed a viral or bacterial infection like pneumonia.
Some Medications
Sometimes, a baby’s hiccups are caused by his medication. It isn’t clear how often this happens. Some parents notice that their baby’s hiccups stop after the medication is stopped if it is an over-the-counter medication or one prescribed by a doctor.
The Difference Between Baby Hiccups and Reflux
When your baby has hiccups, it doesn’t always mean that they have reflux. While hiccups and reflux are similar in some ways, there are also a few key differences that you need to keep in mind.
While hiccups can happen for various reasons, such as breastfeeding or eating, reflux is mainly due to the baby gulping too much air while feeding or breathing too hard during exercise. Hiccups tend to disappear on their own within a few minutes, while reflux can last for a more extended period.
In other words, prolonged hiccups indicate something more serious than simple reflux–but if you have any concerns about your baby’s health or behavior, it’s always best to consult with your doctor and ask if the article you’ve read is helpful!
Natural Remedies for Baby Hiccups
Hiccups are a stinkin’ nuisance when your baby is suffering from them. But they can be soothed with these easy-to-find remedies that work without harming your child.
Here are a few natural remedies that may help to stop baby hiccups:
Burp Your Baby
An effective and natural way to stop hiccups in your baby is by burping them. If your baby is trying to digest something, it will cause burping. The natural mechanism of burp allows babies to get rid of the gas buildup in their stomachs.
Change the Feeding Position
Changing the position of a baby can help to relieve hiccups. The most common position is to place the baby on his stomach and then support him on your forearm so that he can turn himself over. It may take a while before hiccups finally disappear, but it is better to make them stop than leave the baby in discomfort.
Give Your Baby a Pacifier
Giving your baby a pacifier can help to remedy the hiccuping problem. Babies typically develop hiccups after a feed, but some babies with colic have hiccups that won’t go away.
Try a Sugar Solution
Sugar Solution Remedy for Baby Hiccup is a natural home remedy that treats baby hiccups. It is made of sugar, water, and lemon juice. The texture of this recipe is very smooth and creamy, which makes it easy to digest for infants. The Sugar Solution can be used as oral rehydration therapy when babies have diarrhea due to its low osmolarity. It contains glucose at a low concentration, so it absorbs fast into the bloodstream without causing an overload in glucose levels.
Give Your Baby a Break
Giving Your Baby a Break is a quick and easy remedy for relieving your baby’s hiccup. It is safe, effective, and simple to use. All you need are a foot pump and some food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE), available at most health food stores or online.
It’s important to note that these remedies are not scientifically proven, and some may only work for some babies.
Tricks to Stop Baby Hiccups During Feeding
If newborn hiccups persist, you can try a few home remedies to get rid of baby hiccups.
For example, during feedings, ensure they’re upright while drinking from their bottle to minimize the amount of air they swallow. Then after feedings, make sure to burp your baby by holding them upright as you gently pat their back.
Another trick is to give your baby a sip of water or have them drink from a straw. It’s also important to avoid giving your baby carbonated beverages or any food or drink that may cause a strong sucking motion.
Gently patting your baby’s back can also help stop hiccups. However, these home remedies have yet to be proven through peer-reviewed studies and should be used cautiously. It’s always best to consult with a pediatrician if you have concerns about your baby’s hiccups!
The Effects of Overfeeding and How It Relates to Hiccups
Overfeeding can have a number of adverse effects on a baby, including poor weight gain, increased spit-ups, colic, and even obesity later in life. Overfeeding can also disrupt a baby’s natural hunger and fullness cues and make it difficult for parents to determine the right amount of milk or formula to give.
It’s important to pay attention to your baby’s hunger cues and to follow their lead when it comes to feeding. A baby’s stomach is small and can only hold a limited amount of milk or formula at one time. It’s also essential to avoid overfeeding by not forcing a baby to finish a bottle or a feeding when they show signs of being full.
Consulting With a Pediatrician About Frequent or Persistent Hiccups
It is important to consult a pediatrician about frequent hiccups because it is likely to be a sign of something more serious, such as an upper respiratory tract infection or stomach upset.
A doctor can also determine whether the cause is physical (such as a stomach virus) or emotional (such as stress). More severe causes of hiccups should be monitored in case of dehydration and other medical issues.
How to Prevent Hiccups and When to Be Concerned
Hiccups happen for many reasons, but it can be hard to diagnose them because they are often caused by minor digestive or respiratory problems. The following suggestions help prevent hiccups.
- Make your baby drink plenty of water. Humidify your house and let your baby breathe through the nose during colds or other respiratory infections.
- Ensure your baby eats healthy meals consistently, and avoid overeating in general. If the hiccups persist, try holding your baby’s breath above 1 minute or drinking pickle juice before going to bed to relax.
If you notice that your baby’s hiccups are more than usual or for extended periods, talk to your doctor about what might be causing them and how you can treat them at home again.
Takeaway
Hiccups are a common and natural occurrence in newborns and infants. Most babies experience hiccups at some point in their first year. However, if your baby has frequent hiccups or if they cause distress, it’s important to seek the advice of a doctor. Generally, hiccups disappear on their own, usually lasting for only a few minutes.
There are various home remedies that can help rid your baby of hiccups, so don’t fret. There are many steps you can take to alleviate your baby’s discomfort from hiccups. We hope you find this article helpful as you navigate parenting and hiccups!
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