Babies & Hiccups

Parents are generally alarmed when a baby develops a bout of hiccups. Hiccups may also be startling and unsettling for babies, but the condition is normal and generally disappears with age. Babies with gastroesophogeal reflux (GER) may be more likely to develop hiccuping.

Significance

• According to Dr. William Sears, M.D., hiccups in babies are a harmless annoyance of the digestive system that may even occur in the womb. Hiccups are rarely painful for babies and not a usual sign of underlying medical conditions.

Facts

• The cause of hiccups in babies is unknown, but the condition occurs when the diaphragm muscle contracts powerfully. According to Beth M. Lovinelli, RN, BSN, IBCLC, one theory related to in-utero hiccups proposes that the condition creates a regular, rhythmic diaphragm workout, which may aid in breathing when the baby is born.

Expert Insight

• Lovinelli asserts that by your baby's first birthday, hiccups are usually less frequent. According to Lara Jana, M.D., hiccups in babies can actually be considered a newborn reflex that eventually disappears. Dr. Sears affirms by stating that hiccups generally disappear as a baby's digestive system matures.

Considerations

• Lovinelli recommends sitting your baby up and comforting him until the hiccups pass. Dr. Sears states that overfeeding is a common trigger for hiccups in babies and suggests feeding your baby twice as often, but half as much at each feeding session.

Solutions

• Stopping hiccups in babies may be possible by allowing him to breastfeed or sip from a bottle or cup, which may promote relaxation of the diaphragm. Lovinelli states that the most effective treatment for hiccups in babies is time. Hiccups generally take time to pass, and tricks will not remedy the condition.