Babies make all kinds of adorable noises and sounds. The little sneezes, snores, and giggles are enough to make anyone forget that they thought they were done having children. However, hiccups can be adorable, but they can also be worrisome to parents. This is especially true for babies who tend to get hiccups a lot. Babies start hiccupping when they are in the womb, and moms will often feel them and marvel at the little “pop” feeling they get when they know their unborn child has the hiccups.

Parents will often try a handful of tips and hacks to get their baby to stop hiccupping. The reason they do that is that they know that when they get hiccups, it is annoying. They are bothered by the constant sound and movement, so they assume that their baby must be bothered as well and just want to bring them relief. But are babies really bothered by hiccups? Why do they get them anyway? We’re uncovering the science and biology behind the whole thing.

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It Is A Normal Reflex

According to Sittercity, hiccups are a reflex and they are completely normal. It is part of their brain and lung development and essential for their wellbeing. Hiccups can also be caused in babies for the same reason they happen in adults, and that is because too much air has passed through during a feeding. This is one of the reasons why burping a baby is so essential, as well as position when feeding.

If bottle-feeding, the entire nipple should be full of milk so that little air passes through. If mom is breastfeeding, it is important to make sure that the baby has a good latch so that no air is getting in when they are eating. There has not been any evidence that about of the hiccups bothers infants at all. Some babies are even known to sleep through them just fine.

Temperature

The short answer is that there are no exact reasons as to why babies get the hiccups, as the exact cause has never been found, according to The Bump. All moms have to go on is educated theories from medical professionals. Some also believe that hiccups occur due to a temperature change within the stomach. If mom gives her baby some cold milk, followed by warm oatmeal, the quick temperature change in the stomach can lead to hiccups. If mom wants to try and be preventative with this method, she may want to either serve the milk warmed up, or wait a few minutes between switching food temperatures.

Is It GER?

In some cases, hiccups can be a sign that a baby has gastroesophageal reflux (GER). This is when partially digested food and acid from the stomach go back up the esophagus and it can cause burning and discomfort, similar to heartburn in adults. This can cause baby hiccups, and while it sounds scary, it is not normally a serious condition. Moms should also know that just because your baby hiccups a lot, does not mean that they have GER.

This would require a proper and medical diagnosis, but there are some signs that mom can look out for. Along with hiccups, mom wants to pay attention to if her baby is crying more than usual, if they arch their back when they are feeding and if they have more than normal spit-ups. If your baby is showing these signs, it would be wise to have a conversation with your baby’s pediatrician. They will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and speak to you about what you can do to make sure your baby is comfortable.

What To Do

While nothing has indicated that hiccups cause the baby’s any stress of uncomfortableness, if mom wants them to stop, there are a few things that mom can try. According to Healthline, if your baby seems uncomfortable by hiccups the first thing that mom should try is burping her baby. Even if they are not in the middle of a feeding, burping the baby can sometimes get the hiccups to stop.

Mom can also give them a pacifier, and this is something that plays off treatment for hiccups in adults. When an adult has hiccups, one of the things they are told to do is swallow and this can “reset” their diaphragm. When you give a baby a pacifier, it encourages them to suck. Gripe water is another alternative that mom can try, and it is a remedy that moms have been using for decades. Oftentimes, the best thing for mom to do is just to let the hiccups run their course.

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Sources: Sittercity, The Bump, Healthline