Baby hiccups are a common occurrence in infants. They can be quite alarming to parents, but don’t worry – they’re usually harmless! The medical term for baby hiccups is “spasmodic breathing.” When babies have spasms of their diaphragm muscles, the result is the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the stomach that produces a cute little “hiccup” sound.
You may notice that your baby’s hiccups are more frequent when he or she has just eaten or if you have changed his position while feeding him. Some other causes include exposure to cold air, indigestion, gas bubbles in the intestines which expand with air pressure from swallowing and produce this funny little noise.
Fortunately, hiccups in babies usually go away on their own and don’t need any treatment. However, if your baby’s hiccups are frequent or seem to be bothering him then read on our article to learn about causes, cures and prevention of it.
Baby Hiccups and its Causes
Hiccups in babies are usually caused due to some underlying medical condition. If your baby experiences frequent hiccups, you should take him to the doctor for a check-up. Some of the common causes of baby hiccups include:
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) – This is a common condition in babies that occurs when the stomach contents flow back up into the esophagus. GER can cause irritation and inflammation of the esophageal lining, which can lead to hiccups.
• Gastritis – This is a condition that results from inflammation of the stomach lining. It can cause nausea, vomiting and hiccups in infants.
• Intestinal gas – This is a common cause of hiccups in babies. When the intestines are full of gas, it can put pressure on the diaphragm and lead to hiccups.
• Food allergies or intolerance – Some babies may be allergic to certain foods, which can trigger hiccups.
• Infection – An infection in the respiratory tract or intestines can cause hiccups in infants.
• Brain Tumors – Rarely, a brain tumor may be responsible for causing baby hiccups.
If your baby is experiencing frequent hiccups, it’s important to take him to the doctor so that he can be evaluated for any underlying medical condition.
Baby Hiccups: What to Do About It
Having hiccups is quite annoying, but fortunately it’s also harmless. However, if your baby experiences frequent or bothersome hiccups then you can try out some of the following ways to cure them:
• Feeding – Sometimes feeding formula may help soothe a fussy baby and stop hiccups too! So feed him his bottle or breastfeed your baby to see if it cures his hiccups.
• Gentle massage – A soft, gentle back rub may help soothe a fussy infant and stop the spasms that are causing her hiccups. So try giving him a nice little back rub before feeding him or putting him down for nap .
• Change position – Some babies feel more comfortable when they are lying on their stomachs. So try holding your infant in a face-down position for about five minutes before feeding him or putting him down to sleep .
• Burping – If you’ve just given your baby a bottle, sometimes burping him may help stop the hiccups he is experiencing.
• Position change – Sometimes babies experience hiccups because of gas or indigestion, so changing his position may help him burp up the excess air in his tummy and relieve discomfort that is causing the spasms .
So if your baby has frequent bouts of hiccups then try out some of these methods to see if they help cure his hiccups.
Also, try to keep him in a comfortable position while he is sleeping and ensure that the room temperature is warm enough for your baby. This will go a long way in preventing or reducing baby hiccups.
You can also give your baby some homeopathic remedies or a small dose of sugar to help relieve infant hiccups.
Prevention Techniques for Hiccups in Babies
There are a few things that you can do to help prevent your baby from experiencing hiccups:
• Feed your baby smaller, more frequent meals instead of large ones. This will help reduce the amount of air he swallows and decreases the chances of him getting hiccups.
• Avoid giving your baby overly processed foods or artificial sweeteners, which may cause him to get hiccups.
• Burp your baby frequently throughout the day or if he is bottle-fed after every two ounces of milk. This will help expel excess air from his tummy and prevent burping up gas that can lead to hiccups .
So make sure you follow these tips to help prevent your baby from experiencing hiccups.
When Should You Visit the Doctor?
• If baby hiccups last for more than 24 hours.
• If your infant’s hiccups are accompanied with other symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea or fever. These can be signs of an underlying medical condition and it is best to speak with the doctor about this .
So if you think that there could be something else going on that’s causing your baby’s hiccups, then it’s best to visit the doctor. He will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and may prescribe some medication if necessary.
Hiccups are common in babies and usually go away on their own after a few minutes. However, there are several causes of hiccups in infants and if they persist for more than 24 hours or are accompanied by other symptoms, then it’s best to visit the doctor. There may be an underlying medical condition causing the hiccups and your baby will need treatment for that. So remember to keep a close eye on your little one if he is experiencing frequent bouts of hiccups!
What Not to Do If Your Baby Hiccups
There are a few things that you should avoid doing if your baby has hiccups:
• Don’t give him anything to eat or drink, as this may only make the hiccups worse.
• Don’t try to scare your baby or make him laugh by telling him scary stories or making loud noises. This may only make the situation worse.
• Don’t put your baby in a tub of cold water to get rid of his hiccups, as this may only make him more uncomfortable and agitated .
Conclusion
So these are a few things that you can do if your baby has hiccups. Keep in mind that most babies will get over their hiccups on their own within a few minutes, but if they persist for more than 24 hours or are accompanied by other symptoms, then it’s best to consult with the doctor. Thanks for reading!!
