Does Your Baby Have Hiccups? These Tips Will Help!

Mothers face many challenges. One of these is when your baby has the hiccups. Then it wants to be calmed down. 

What is hiccups?

Hiccups are sudden and involuntary movements of the diaphragm.

These are repeated at regular intervals. When a person has hiccups, the lungs expel air. That creates the typical noise

Why does a baby have the hiccups?

Here is a list of the most common reasons for baby hiccups:

1. Underdevelopment of the gastric porter

Your child’s stomach gatekeeper may not be developed.

This valve is responsible for communication between the esophagus and the stomach. If it is not fully developed, it cannot close properly. The result is hiccups.

This is a problem for many babies in the first few months. But don’t worry. 

Your baby’s nervous and digestive systems will continue to develop. Gradually, the hiccups will decrease.

2. Indigestion

When a child’s stomach is full, there is pressure on the diaphragm. The result is hiccups. 

3. Crying

Long crying can also lead to hiccups. The reason is that a baby gasps for air when crying and also draws air to cry out.

So don’t be surprised if prolonged crying is followed by hiccups. 

This will prevent hiccups

These practical tips can help prevent hiccups:

• Avoid sudden changes in temperature.
• Dry off your baby well after bathing and avoid cold air.
• Don’t wait too long between feeds. If your baby gets too hungry, the next meal he or she will eat too greedily and quickly, swallowing air in the process.
• If your child cries while breastfeeding, you should change the situation so that they calm down. It should also burp in between. Take a break every now and then.
• If your baby is crying, you shouldn’t breastfeed or feed right away. First it has to calm down. 
• Your baby should be properly breastfeed.
• When you give the bottle, make sure the teat is the right size.

Your Baby Has Hiccups – How Can You Help?

There are many myths and strategies about hiccups. Some are good and some are bad. Read on to find out what really helps.

1. Massage

Hiccups can make your baby cry. If this happens, then you should try to calm them down, because crying makes breathing even more restless.

A gentle massage over the stomach and back relaxes and consequently calms the hiccups. 

2. Control the speed at which your child eats

Your child can be so hungry that they pull hard on the bottle or chest. If your baby is hiccuping , it’s better to calm down a bit and take a little break in between.

A break is also great so that your baby can burp in between. Allow at least 10 minutes after eating.

3. water

If you only breastfeed your baby, you can gradually give a few teaspoons of water and pat gently on the back. 

If your baby is older, you can give him a spoonful of sugar.

4. Find the best position when your baby has hiccups

It can help hold your baby upright. So it can burp and the hiccups calm down. At the same time, you can gently stroke his back, because this allows him to expel air in the stomach.

In any case, you should refrain from holding your baby’s nose. The idea behind this is that your baby needs to hold their breath and the hiccups will stop.

But that won’t calm your baby down by any means. Instead, it will frighten and cry. This strategy tends to make the situation worse.

As we’ve shown, there are a few tips that will really help if your baby has hiccups. 

Other strategies, however, are not suitable. The best thing is to be prepared and informed.