How to Help Baby Get Rid of Hiccups
Hiccups can be annoying even for adults. Imagine how uncomfortable they are for youngsters who can’t currently manage to get a glass of water for themselves or even tell you how they are feeling.
If you are a new parent, it is perfectly normal not to know how to handle this situation, as you may have been told previously to just hold your breath to get rid of them, which babies cannot be instructed to do. This piece will help you figure out why they happen and how to help baby get rid of hiccups.
What Causes Baby Hiccups?
Hiccups in infants do not have much of a difference from those in adults. As you may know, this is a phenomenon caused by a spasm in our diaphragm, the muscle located beneath the chest and above the abdomen. This muscle can tighten due to a number of reasons like overeating or swallowing excess air.
In the case of babies, it can be an effect of nursing them too much. It can also be a result of a sudden variation in their stomach’s temperature, which can happen if you give them warm milk and then ice cream, for example.
How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups
The next question now is how to get rid of baby hiccups since they can’t currently help themselves. Luckily, there are various ways.
- Stop nursing them for a moment and burp them. This can help evacuate the excess air in their stomach that could be causing the hiccups.
- Give them a pacifier. The pacifier can aid them in getting rid of the air naturally.
- Sit them upright. Then, rub their back up and down to help with the spasm.
- If you are breastfeeding, slow down on feeding them. This can gradually get rid of the problem.
- Try gripe water. It is a combination of water and herbs like ginger or chamomile. This can help soothe their stomach.
- Check that your baby is latched on correctly while feeding. Make sure that your little one is not making gurgling sounds when fed as this indicates that they are not angled well for feeding.
There are some age-old beliefs about how baby hiccups can be prevented. However, they are not necessarily true. Here are some of them.
- Startling them. This does not work for either children or adults. It can do more harm to infants as well.
- Putting a moist cloth over their head. This obviously does not have any impact on the hiccups.
- Giving them water. Although it works for adults, it may not work for babies due to their smaller stomachs.
- Pulling their tongue. This is not a proven method, so it is best not to try it. It can also upset your baby.
Conclusion
Hiccups are generally not serious and can resolve themselves; however, it can be difficult for infants. If it happens too often and for longer each time, you may want to check with a pediatrician just to be sure.