3 Tips for Helping A Newborn with Hiccups

You just brought your baby home from the hospital, and you’re getting all settled into your new routine. Your baby’s feeding schedule is becoming consistent. You can change a diaper blindfolded. (Although we wouldn’t advise that!) You’re actually starting to get some sleep at night. But all of a sudden, your baby gets their first fit of hiccups. What do you do? How do you help get rid of them?

Newborn hiccups are extremely common and typically ease up on their own within 5 to 10 minutes. That said, there are certainly ways to help your little one feel more comfortable and to help the hiccups pass as quickly as possible. 

Our newborn care specialists are ready to answer all of your questions and ease any worries you may have. Keep reading for some of their expert advice. 

Why Do Newborns Get Hiccups?

Newborns most commonly get hiccups from involuntary spasms of the diaphragm. This is the muscle under the lungs that controls breathing. Typically, these spasms are triggered during or after feeding. Swallowing air, being overfed, or eating too fast are all common causes. 

While these causes can affect everyone of all ages, babies are significantly more susceptible.

Hiccups can also result from reflux or excitement. In the case of reflux, please consult your pediatrician for personalized support. And if your baby gets excited during feeding, try to feed them in a quiet, calm environment.

Now, if hiccups become a regular occurrence for your little one, gently calm them using these expert-approved techniques. 

3 Ways to Help Ease Newborn Hiccups

When your little one gets hiccups, it’s completely natural to want to help them pass. Here are three ways to help give your little one immediate relief:

1. Burp your little one. If the hiccups pop up while you’re feeding your baby, pause and gently burp them until the hiccups pass. 

2. Hold them upright. Readjust your little one and hold them up on your shoulder for 20 – 30 minutes to help the air escape. 

3. Offer a pacifier. Sucking on a pacifier relaxes the diaphragm to help hiccups pass. 

Unless your baby appears distressed, you can always wait for them to ease up on their own. These tactics simply help speed up the natural process. If hiccups show up often, though, please contact your pediatrician for personal support. 

Newborn Care Tips Readily Available Near You

It’s our motherly instinct to want to help our little ones whenever anything out of the ordinary happens. Burps, sneezes, gas, and hiccups can all be startling when your newborn has them for the first time. 

And while we’d all like to handle everything on our own, sometimes it’s better to bring in an extra set of hands. Because when it comes to your baby, you want to be 100% sure they’re well taken care of at all times. 

Connect with our newborn care experts when you’re ready to learn more about getting the best support for your family. Our Texas-based team is ready to care for you and your baby through the day and all night long.