How to stop baby hiccups: a parent's guide

Experienced by newborn babies at one time or another as they grow, baby hiccups are very common. If you’re a new parent, it can be a little unsettling to see your baby deal with the hiccups (although it has to be said, it can also be pretty cute), but rest assured that, in the main, they’re completely harmless. 

Here we’re looking at what causes baby hiccups, how to stop baby hiccups after feeding, and how to prevent them. That’s right, consider this your comprehensive guide on how to get rid of baby hiccups, without any, well, hiccups (pardon the pun).

Well, it’s all to do with your baby’s diaphragm (the dome-shaped muscle sitting right underneath the lungs and that helps your baby to manage their breathing). Sometimes, the diaphragm ‘spasms’, causing it to contract involuntarily. This allows a rush of air into the lungs and the vocal cords to shut suddenly. The result? That familiar sound of hiccups, ‘hic’!¹.

Your baby’s feeding habits are a good place to start if you’re wondering how to get rid of baby hiccups, as eating and drinking may well have something to do with it².

There are a number of reasons why your baby might be feeding so speedily. If you’re breastfeeding, you may have an oversupply of breast milk, and your little one may struggle with the flow of milk³. It could also be a simple case of having a hungry baby on your hands, and they just can’t get their milk down fast enough!⁴

Yes, babies can, and often do, get hiccups in the womb, and they’re considered to be a reassuring sign at every stage of your pregnancy⁴. They can start as early as week 9 of your pregnancy⁵, and if you’re lucky, you might even get to see your baby having the hiccups at your pregnancy ultrasound scans. Some pregnant women can even feel their baby hiccupping in the womb. 

It’s not known exactly what causes hiccups in the womb, but they are considered part of your baby’s normal development. Some studies have suggested that hiccups help your baby regulate the amount of amniotic fluid they swallow, and practice their breathing technique, ready for life outside of the womb^5,6.

If those baby hiccups decide to hang around, or your baby is unsettled by them, there are a few gentle methods you can try to get rid of them. 

When your baby swallows their milk, little bubbles of air can sometimes become trapped in their tummy - this could lead to hiccups⁷. Follow your baby’s cues, and take regular burping breaks to wind your baby. 

Many parents find that giving their baby a dummy helps to stop baby hiccups. This is because your baby’s sucking reflex may help to control their diaphragm and their breathing. 

If your baby is breastfed, it’s best to wait until breastfeeding is fully established before offering a dummy, as there’s a chance that it will interfere with them learning how to feed. Sucking a dummy is very different to breastfeeding!⁸. 

Still wondering how to get rid of those baby hiccups? The good news is that in most cases, you won’t need to do anything, as they tend to disappear all on their own within a minute or two².

Gripe water breaks down trapped bubbles of gas, and many parents use it to help their babies manage the symptoms of conditions like colic and trapped wind⁹. However, there’s no evidence to suggest that this works or that it can help to stop baby hiccups, and you should always speak to your doctor before deciding to give it to your baby.

As the saying goes, prevention is always better than a cure. So, now we’ve explored how to get rid of baby hiccups, let’s explore ways to prevent them in the first place. 

To help stop baby hiccups after feeding, follow your baby’s hunger cues and feed them when they’re hungry. This is known as ‘responsive feeding’ or ‘feeding on demand¹⁰, and can help to prevent your baby from becoming so hungry that they struggle to focus on their feed. Your little one is likely to feed much better if they’re calm and relaxed. 

The paced feeding technique can also help to prevent baby hiccups, as it helps your baby mimic how they’d feed from your breast, stopping for a rest when needed and then going back for more when they’re ready¹⁰.

Try to keep your baby’s bottle slightly tipped but horizontal - this is the best position for keeping baby hiccups at bay. This will help prevent the teat from becoming full of air that your baby could swallow, and allow the milk to flow more slowly¹⁰.

Also, be sure to choose the correct teat flow for your baby. A slow flow is likely to be best for your newborn.

Keeping your baby semi-upright during feeding is the best position baby for hiccups, and may help to prevent them. When it comes to how to stop hiccups after feeding, try to keep your baby upright once they’ve finished their breastfeed or bottle, as this may help to stop hiccups¹¹.

If you’re breastfeeding, make sure your baby is securely latched onto your breast. If your baby isn’t latched on properly, they may swallow extra air, giving them wind and a case of the hiccups. 

You may have heard about something called baby reflux. It’s a condition that occurs when your little one brings their milk back up during or after a feed. Some of the symptoms include your baby¹²:

• Gulping after feeding and being winded.
• Crying and being unsettled. 
• Not gaining weight. 
• Coughing or getting the hiccups while feeding. 

Most babies will grow out of reflux by the time they’re a year old¹², but if they’re struggling to manage symptoms, or if you need some advice and support, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your GP or midwife. 

You should always seek medical advice about your baby’s hiccups if²:

• They last longer than 48 hours. 
• They occur very regularly. 
• Your baby is struggling to manage them and becoming distressed. 
• Your baby is not gaining weight. 
• They continue after your baby’s first birthday. 

Have questions about baby hiccups? We’re here to help. 

Usually, baby hiccups will stop of their own accord within a couple of minutes. If they continue for long periods of time, seek advice from your doctor or midwife. 

It’s possible, yes. Hiccups can happen if your baby is excited or experiencing another intense emotion². If that’s the case, take your baby somewhere calm and quiet to see if the hiccups subside.

There’s no evidence to suggest that eating spicy food will cause your baby to have the hiccups. However, some parents have found that avoiding spicy foods has made a difference to colic symptoms, so there’s certainly no harm in trying for hiccups too¹³.

When it comes to preventing and soothing baby hiccups, feeding your baby in a more upright position may be beneficial. Experiment with different feeding positions to find the one that helps your baby enjoy their feed without taking in too much excess air. 

Yes, they can. Hiccups shouldn’t disturb your little one’s peaceful sleep, and you don’t need to wake them up to try and get rid of them. 

No, it doesn’t. However, hiccups are one of the symptoms of baby reflux, so it’s always best to have a chat with your doctor or midwife to rule it out.