How to Help a Baby With Hiccups
Hiccups are common in babies. In fact, your baby was probably hiccuping before she was born. Expectant mothers often feel regular, rhythmic movements in the second trimester that last from a few minutes up to as long as half an hour, which is the baby hiccuping. Hiccups occur when the diaphragm muscle between the chest and abdomen spasms and the vocal cords snap together, making the hiccuping noise. Hiccups often seem worse than they are and may alarm new parents.
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Instructions
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Give the hiccups some time to pass on their own. Remember that most babies suffer from hiccups and that it is not a cause for great concern. Often hiccups will go away within a short time without you having to do anything.
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Hold your baby in a seated position and gently stroke her back until the hiccups pass. This will comfort her and relax her breathing.
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Give your baby a short feed from your breast, or a few sips of milk or cooled boiled water from a bottle or cup. This may help to relax her diaphragm.
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Consult your pediatrician if your baby's hiccups persist for longer than one day.
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Tips & Warnings
Help avoid hiccups in the first place by not over feeding; short, frequent meals are best.
After each feed, place baby upright against your shoulder and gently pat or rub her back to bring up any air she may have swallowed during the feed. This may avoid hiccups.
Check the nipple of the formula bottle is the correct size and try different bottle and nipple types until you find the one that works best for your baby.
References
- Photo Credit baby image by Diane Stamatelatos from Fotolia.com baby sit image by Francois du Plessis from Fotolia.com baby on the bottle image by marilyn barbone from Fotolia.com
