Parenting Guide

How to stop newborn baby hiccups in 5 easy steps?

How to stop newborn baby hiccups in 5 easy steps?

Fact-checked by MFine | Last Updated : November 6th, 2019

Is a relentless case of hiccups making your baby cranky and fussy? Hiccups in your baby are typical, and useful parenting tips help you to be prepared...

How to stop newborn baby hiccups in 5 easy steps?

Hiccups are small contractions that happen in the diaphragm muscles and can happen to adults, children and newborn babies. There are multiple reasons why newborn baby hiccups and this includes eating or drinking too fast without chewing. At infancy, only a small amount of hydrochloric acid forms in the stomach which mean babies can only have a small uptake of food. If this process happens quickly, your baby will get hiccups. It may be difficult for parents to see their child suffer from hiccups but with these easy tricks, hiccups in newborn babies can be managed effectively. Also read our blog on The Ultimate Indian Baby Food Chart for 0-12 Months.

How to prevent hiccups in babies?

1.Burping after breastfeeding

Hiccups in newborn babies can be stopped by patting your baby on their back and then burping them right after a meal. Your baby could be hiccupping due to excess consumption of food, so it is a good idea to stop feeding them and burping them instead. Make sure your baby is in an upright position and pat them on the back gently. The excess gas pushing against the diaphragm will be released and your baby will stop hiccupping. Milk is not only a calcium-rich food but also contains a protein called casein that causes a thick milk compound that will aid the formation of healthy bones and teeth in newborns. However, milk descends to the stomach at a fast pace, which can cause hiccups. The key to this not happening is getting the breastfeeding position right. Position your newborn in a 30-45-degree angle while breastfeeding for a smooth flow of the milk into the oesophagus. This will reduce the pressure exerted onto the diaphragm. Try to take 3-minute breaks while breastfeeding to make sure that the milk passes into the stomach in a smooth manner. This is an excellent technique for parents wondering how to stop baby hiccups after feeding.

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Pro tips:

Make sure your baby is relaxed before feeding.
Keep them in an upright position instead of letting them sleep or laying them down. This will promote better digestion.
Don’t let your baby indulge in any heavy energy activities such as bouncing right after feeding.

2. Use a pacifier

When your baby hiccups, try using a pacifier to calm them. The hiccups will stop in no time as it will relax the intercostal muscles and the base muscles in the diaphragm. Make sure to use a BPA free pacifier for your baby as BPA is usually used in various plastics and contains chemicals that are not suitable for your baby. Using a pacifier immediately after breastfeeding reduces your baby’s chances of getting hiccups. The sucking motion while using the pacifier helps distract them.

3. Sugar can stop toddler hiccups quickly

Your toddler’s hiccups can be prevented by using a magic ingredient: sugar. Start with using regular granulated sugar, preferably brown sugar as it has multiple health benefits. Place either your finger or a pacifier in a bowl of lukewarm water. Dip the soaked finger or pacifier into a bowl of sugar. Immediately place it into your baby’s mouth for 3 minutes. Sugar contains compounds that stimulate the vagus nerve and this will gradually put an end to hiccups in newborn babies. It contains an active ingredient that will break up the gas bubbles that can cause baby hiccups.

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4. Angle your feeding bottle correctly

If you are bottle-feeding your baby, the wrong angle can cause your baby to swallow a lot of air, giving them a bad case of hiccups. To avoid this, make sure the bottle is kept at a 45-degree angle. This will cause the air to remain at the bottom of the bottle, ensuring your baby only sucks in liquid. Also read our blog on A Complete List of the Best Baby Formulas for Your Little One.

5. Choose the right teat

If you are still breastfeeding your baby, then regulating the flow of milk will not be a problem. When you graduate to feeding bottles, however, you should take special care to choose the right-sized teat. A teat that is too big can cause too much milk to come out, making your baby full very quickly. This can irritate their tiny stomachs and cause hiccups in babies. A teat that is too small, on the other hand, might make your hungry baby suck more vigorously and swallow a lot of air in the process. If the hiccups don’t seem to be causing your baby any discomfort, it is best to let them run their course. If it happens too often, do consult with a pediatrician as, although rare, it could be a sign of something serious. Hiccups usually last only for a short period of time. It is not abnormal for your baby to get hiccups over the first few months as it is a normal outcome from breastfeeding. The treatments listed above are proven ways on how to stop baby hiccups. If your baby’s hiccups don’t stop or if there are any additional symptoms like vomiting or spitting that accompany hiccups, it is better to consult a paediatrician. Download the mfine app and get help from your city’s top doctors right away.