Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Taking a break during a feed
• Part 2 of 4: Reduce air swallowing
• Part 3 of 4: Adjusting the feeding schedule
• Part 4 of 4: Seeking medical attention
• Tips

Hiccups are a series of consecutive diaphragm contractions. It is a normal occurrence in babies and newborns and is usually not a cause for concern. Often an attack of hiccups in babies is caused by too much feeding or by a baby taking in too much air. Babies generally do not suffer from hiccups, but if you are concerned that your child is not feeling well, you can alleviate the hiccups by adjusting the feeding schedule and looking for possible causes.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Taking a break during a feed

1. Stop feeding if a baby has persistent hiccups that hinder breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Continue feeding if hiccups have stopped or try feeding again after ten minutes if hiccups persist.
   • Soothe a frustrated baby by rubbing or patting the back gently. Babies who are hungry and upset take in more air, causing hiccups.
2. Watch the baby's position before continuing. Keep the baby semi-upright during feeding and upright for thirty minutes after feeding. Staying upright can relieve pressure on the baby's diaphragm.
3. Burp the baby while you wait. Belching can cause the release of gas in the stomach that causes the hiccups. Hold the baby upright against your chest so that the baby's head is on or slightly over your shoulder.
   • Rub or pat the baby's back gently. This sets the gas in motion.
   • Continue feeding after baby burps or wait a few minutes if baby is not burping.

Part 2 of 4: Reduce air swallowing

1. Listen to the baby during the feeding. If you hear the baby gulp loudly, he or she may be drinking too quickly and swallowing too much air. Swallowing excess air can lead to a bloated stomach and eventually hiccups. Take regular breaks to slow down feeding.
2. Check whether the baby has latched on properly when breastfeeding. The baby's lips should be around the areola, not just the nipple itself. A wrong bite can cause the baby to take in air.
3. Hold the bottle at a 45 degree angle when bottle feeding. This will allow the air in the bottle to flow to the bottom and away from the teat. You may also want to consider putting a special insert in the bottle designed to reduce air swallowing.
4. Take a good look at the hole in the bottle teat. If the hole is too big, the power will flow too fast. If the hole is too narrow, your baby will become frustrated and swallow air. If the hole is the right size, a few drops should come out when you turn the bottle upside down.

Part 3 of 4: Adjusting the feeding schedule

1. Adjust the baby's feeding schedule. Doctors often advise feeding a baby more frequently, but for a shorter time. If a baby gets too much milk during one feeding, the stomach will swell too quickly, which can cause the diaphragm to contract.
2. Take frequent breaks and make time for burping during a feed. Burp the baby before switching breasts when breastfeeding. With bottle feeding, you let the baby burp after drinking 60 to 90 ml of milk. Pause for a burp or stop feeding when the baby is no longer feeding or turning his or her head away.
   • Burp a newborn baby a little more, because newborns drink less during a feed. Newborns usually drink eight to twelve times a day.
3. Get to know the baby's hunger signals. Feed your baby as soon as you think he or she is hungry. A calm baby drinks more slowly than a hungry baby who is upset. A baby also swallows extra air when crying.
   • Crying, mouth movements (such as sucking movements), or restlessness can all be hunger signals.
4. Write down when the baby has the hiccups. Write down the time and duration of each period with the hiccups. Keeping track of when the baby has the hiccups can help you determine if there is a pattern and give you a clearer idea of ​​how to relieve the hiccups. Record whether the hiccups started during or shortly after a feed. Review your notes for possible causes.

Part 4 of 4: Seeking medical attention

1. Give it time. Usually the hiccups will go away on their own. The hiccups are often less annoying for babies than for adults. If you think your baby is suffering from hiccups, is not drinking normally, or is not growing normally, see a doctor.
2. Talk to a pediatrician if your baby's hiccups seem abnormal. If a baby has regular hiccups for more than 20 minutes, this could be a symptom of reflux.
   • Other symptoms of reflux include vomiting and refusing to drink.
   • A pediatrician can prescribe medication or provide recommendations on how to deal with reflux in your baby.
3. If hiccups seem to be affecting your baby's breathing, see a pediatrician. If you hear a wheezing sound or if it seems that your baby's breathing is in any other way obstructed, take your baby to a doctor immediately.

Tips

• Hiccups are normal in newborns and babies. Most babies outgrow hiccups as their digestive systems continue to develop.
• If you burp a baby, make sure there is no pressure on the stomach. This is best done by placing the baby's chin on your shoulder, supporting the baby between the legs and patting the baby's back with the other hand.