Just like you, your baby also gets hiccups sometimes. This can startle you, because you can't explain to your hiccupping baby what's happening. No worries, everything will be fine. We'll explain what hiccups are and what you can do.
Hiccups in the womb
Your baby can have hiccups in the womb from the second trimester onwards. You'll feel this through regular "jolts". Hiccups in the womb occur when your baby drinks amniotic fluid. When the stomach gets too full, the diaphragm contracts in a reflex. Often it lasts a while and goes away on its own. Nothing to worry about, it's not dangerous. You can also have a hiccupping baby outside the womb. Below we explain the ins and outs of hiccups in your little one.
First of all: What are hiccups anyway?
Just like in the womb, hiccups work the same way outside the womb. It's a sudden contraction of the diaphragm when the stomach is too full with food and/or air; the same muscle you use to breathe. The hiccupping sound occurs because the vocal cords close quickly.
How do hiccups develop in your little one?
Did you know that a baby gets hiccups more often than you do? Why this happens isn't entirely clear, but usually it's because your hiccupping baby eats and drinks too quickly or too much, causing them to swallow air. The stomach then presses against the diaphragm.
Hiccups and Reflux
Babies with reflux often get hiccups, because some of the food comes back up and irritates the diaphragm again. This often comes with spitting up and coughing. It's sad to see and the only thing you can do is stay with your child and keep them upright. This way you prevent your child from choking.
A hiccupping baby, how do you prevent it?
You can't completely prevent a hiccupping baby. But you can pay attention to the points below.
1. Limit the air your child swallows
If you're breastfeeding, make sure your child latches on properly. With bottle feeding, make sure the hole in the nipple isn't too big.
2. Let your baby burp after feeding
Wait until the burp comes out and hold them upright. This can take a while, but do it anyway. Putting your baby down while there's still air in the stomach is uncomfortable and unpleasant for your child. You can also massage your baby's back with your hand, which relaxes your little one and makes the burp come out more easily.
3. Take breaks during feeding
Some babies are wonderfully greedy. This can cause air to come in while drinking. So during feeding, take the breast or bottle out of your baby's mouth for a moment and let your baby sit upright. Maybe a small (or big!) burp will come out.
4. A calm baby = calm feeding
Do you see that your baby is hungry, or is it feeding time? Let's feed and don't stall too long. When your baby is restless or extremely hungry, the chance of them swallowing more air is greater.
5. Wait before bathing your baby
Wait with bathing your baby after feeding. The food needs to settle first. So bathe your little one before feeding or half an hour after.
Can you stop the hiccups?
While we adults have learned that scaring, patting on the back, and holding your breath sometimes works, we absolutely don't recommend this for a baby. Besides this being somewhat strange, it's not proven that it works at all. Just hold your little one close and wait until the hiccups pass. Do you notice that it happens really frequently, and does it affect your baby's eating and sleeping rhythm? Then contact your doctor.
