How to Quell Newborn Hiccups—Plus What They Mean, According to Experts

From little coos to tiny yawns, babies do the most adorable things—but it’s not always clear which ones are “normal.” Take baby hiccups: They sound sweet, but when your newborn seems to be hiccuping around the clock, it’s natural to wonder if they’re okay. The short answer? The vast majority of the time, yes—newborn hiccups are completely harmless and just a sign of baby’s healthy growth and development.

Still, as normal and cute as hiccups are, they can be a real nuisance. When my daughter was a newborn, hiccups interrupted far too many would-be naps. The scene: I’d be gently placing her in her crib, ready to tiptoe out of the room like a ballerina with pelvic floor dysfunction, and hiccups would hijack the whole operation.

It’s not just naptime that gets disrupted by infant hiccups. “I have a one-year-old who finds his hiccups absolutely hilarious. When he’s eating, this can cause real problems as he’s trying to eat his food but then laughing too much at his hiccups!” says Sarah M., a mom of two in Chester, UK.

If you’ve been there and are wondering how to get rid of baby hiccups, read on as pediatricians share possible causes—plus, how to stop baby hiccups or, better yet, prevent them altogether.

Key Takeaways

• Baby hiccups are normal, harmless and a sign of healthy development. They can be related to baby overfeeding, a sudden change in baby’s stomach temperature or acid reflux.
• Babies can have hiccups multiple times a day, lasting 5 to 10 minutes or longer. They typically get less frequent by the time baby’s 6 months old.
• How to get rid of baby hiccups: Make sure to burp baby, sit them upright after feeding and try to keep them from swallowing air while feeding. Never startle baby or hold their nose.
• To prevent newborn hiccups, avoid overfeeding, sit them upright after feeding and make sure to feed them while they’re calm.
• If baby’s been hiccuping for several hours, or you notice any other concerning signs, reach out to your pediatrician.

Why Do Newborns Get Hiccups?

What causes hiccups in newborns? Well, just like you get occasional hiccups, so do babies. In fact, they actually start in the womb—as early as the first trimester. “Fetal ultrasounds demonstrate that hiccups can occur as early as 9 to 10 weeks gestation,” says Denise Scott, MD, a pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist in Oklahoma. Given how early they start, newborn hiccups are extremely common and to be expected.

“After birth, hiccups usually happen because baby’s digestive and nervous systems are still immature, resulting in spasms of the diaphragm—the flat muscle below the lungs,” explains Amanda Furr, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and chief medical officer at Zarminali Pediatrics. “Feeding, swallowing air, a full stomach, or even a small change in temperature or breathing can trigger them.”

In general, newborn and baby hiccups are most frequently related to feeding time. Ahead, a few factors that could contribute.

Baby overfeeding

Baby overfeeding, eating too quickly or swallowing a lot of air can bring about hiccups. “Any of these things can lead to stomach distention,” says Christal Forgenie, MD, a pediatrician with Soha Pediatrics in New York City. When the stomach distends, it actually pushes against the diaphragm, which causes it to spasm, and—voilà—hiccups! Forgenie adds that it’s very common for newborn hiccups to set in after or even during a feeding. So if baby starts hiccuping as you’re trying to offer the breast or a bottle, consider it a hint to take a breather. You may even be able to prevent hiccups by feeding baby slowly and taking breaks for burping.

Sudden change in stomach temperature

Forgenie and Mayo Clinic say feeding baby something hot and then cold (or vice versa) can also trigger infant hiccups. For example, you give baby some cold milk and then a few minutes later feed them some warm rice cereal—according to Forgenie, this combination can trigger infant hiccups.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

In addition to feeding-related triggers, once in a while, a case of constant baby or newborn hiccups can be caused by something entirely different. When baby suffers from reflux, partially digested food and acidic juices from the stomach flow back up into the esophagus causing burning and discomfort. Since the esophagus passes through the diaphragm, it can get irritated and lead to lots of baby hiccups. “It sounds intense, but it’s quite common and doesn’t always create problems,” Forgenie reassures. It’s important to note, however, that hiccuping alone isn’t a sign of reflux. If you spot any other symptoms or suspect GERD may be the cause, speak to your pediatrician. The good news is that the condition is easily treated.

Example of Newborn and Baby Hiccups

Baby hiccups can be precious and troublesome—often at the same time. Check out what they look like IRL.

How Long Do Baby Hiccups Last?

Babies can have hiccups multiple times a day, lasting 5 to 10 minutes or longer. As a general rule, if baby acts happy and doesn’t seem uncomfortable, baby hiccups aren’t a cause for concern. “It can be worrisome—especially for new [parents]. But hiccups tend to go away after a few minutes,” notes Robin Jacobson, MD, clinical assistant professor and medical director of pediatrics at New York University.

You can just wait it out and allow the hiccups to resolve on their own. If they persist and seem to be causing baby distress, call your pediatrician to figure out the cause. Baby hiccups tend to happen less frequently as kids mature. “Usually by 6 months, hiccups decrease a bit, but it’s not worrisome if, say, a baby of 9 months has the hiccups,” Jacobson explains.

How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups

Now that you know why they can happen, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of baby hiccups. Even if newborn hiccups are harmless, it’s normal for you to want your child to get some relief from those incessant spasms. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some tips for how to stop newborn hiccups. (Hint: It has a lot to do with burping!)

How to stop baby hiccups in breastfed babies

When offering baby your breast, be sure to burp baby as you switch from one breast to the other. If swallowing air seems to be the main issue, you may want to reevaluate baby’s latch, Scott advises. Make sure their lips are sealed around your areola, not just the nipple.

How to stop baby hiccups in bottle-fed babies

When giving your little one a bottle, Forgenie recommends stopping halfway through to burp them and completing the feeding after a 5- to 10-minute break. “Completing the feeding while baby’s relaxed can actually end the hiccupping,” she says. If baby’s swallowing air, try repositioning the bottle so the air isn’t near the nipple, but is instead at the bottom of the bottle. “Make sure the milk fully covers the nipple [of the bottle],” Scott suggests.

Regardless of whether you’re giving baby the bottle or the breast, for preventing and stopping baby hiccups after a feeding, sit baby upright for 20 to 30 minutes afterward. Gently patting baby’s back, rocking them, changing their position or offering a pacifier may also help soothe them and end the hiccups, Scott says.

What Not to Do for Baby Hiccups

While there are several ways to try and stop infant hiccups, there are a few things experts advise avoiding:

• Never startle or scare baby to combat hiccups. “Really, none of that stuff works,” Jacobson says. Furr adds that it’ll just “result in a crying and hiccupping baby.”
• Don’t put a wet cloth on their forehead, which won’t help either.
• “Never hold an infant’s nose. Infants rely on their nostrils to breathe,” warns Furr.
• Many people recommend pulling on baby’s tongue and pressing on their forehead or anterior fontanelle (the soft part of baby’s head), Forgenie says, but this can hurt baby.
• Skip feeding baby over-the-counter remedies like gripe water. “Nothing should be fed to the baby to ‘cure’ them,” says Furr.

“Overall, the best thing to do is to wait it out and rest assured that the hiccups will resolve on their own,” Forgenie says.

How to Avoid Baby Hiccups

Of course, you may want to try a few tricks to prevent baby hiccups from happening in the first place. While there’s no guaranteed way to ward them off, here are a few prevention tips.

• Avoid overfeeding. This is key in preventing infant hiccups, Jacobson says. Take breaks during feedings to burp baby so the stomach doesn’t fill too much, too quickly. Plus, try slowing down your feedings, Scott says.
• Tip the bottle. This is crucial for bottle-fed babies, as it limits the amount of air swallowed.
• Position them upright. “Holding baby up for a few minutes after feedings before putting them down can help prevent baby hiccups,” Jacobson says, noting that how you position baby can also impact reflux.
• Feeding baby when they’re calm. Scott says this tactic—as well as limiting their activity and movement directly after a feeding—can work.

Josh B., a dad of two in Charlotte, North Carolina, says combining a few of these tips has helped reduce his son’s hiccups significantly: “We found hiccups often occurred after a feeding if he was laid down too quickly. Pacing the feeding and keeping him upright for just 5 to 10 minutes post-feed reduced hiccup frequency by over 50 percent.”

When to See a Pediatrician About Baby Hiccups

At the end of the day, baby or newborn hiccups are rarely a cause for concern. “They’re a very common, benign occurrence in infants,” assures Karen Fratantoni, MD, MPH, a pediatrician in Washington, DC.

Of course, if baby doesn’t stop hiccuping after a long period of time (such as 30 minutes), or if you feel like baby’s uncomfortable or something is wrong, don’t hesitate to contact your pediatrician. Moreover, if baby has any feeding or breathing problems, contact your provider.

To Sum It Up

Newborn hiccups can be a nuisance, so it’s normal to want to help baby out when they come down with a nagging case. Take the measures you can to prevent baby hiccups, but know that the occasional episode here and there is nothing to worry about. In the meantime, soak up that adorable little high-pitched sound while it lasts.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.