Hiccups are not uncommon and affect all ages. When it comes to babies, however, newborn hiccups can trigger panic among mum, dad, grandma, uncle, and whoever else is present. What causes them and when to worry? Read on. 

Hiccups: what are they and what causes them? 

Hiccups are caused by involuntary and repeated contractions of the diaphragm resulting in a sudden closure of the vocal cords (the opening of the larynx, through which air passes), which produces that well-known "hic" sound. 

It's an involuntary, natural reflex, like sneezing or coughing, and is nothing to worry about in itself. The root cause, unlike the other two, is still unclear. There are several theories, but none of them have a firm scientific foundation. 

What we do know, however, is that hiccups can occur for several reasons, for example: 

• We have eaten too much 
• We have swallowed too much air while chewing (this can happen when eating too quickly or with fizzy drinks) 
• We are feeling particularly anxious or overly-excited, so we take in more air than usual.  

In any case, hiccups should be considered a completely normal phenomenon, which usually pass in a few minutes and are nothing to worry about. 

The causes listed apply in general terms; in the next paragraph, we’ll discover that the matter is a little more complex for babies. 

What causes hiccups in infants? 

Hiccups in babies are much more common than in adults, and can sometimes be followed by a little regurgitation. Baby hiccups in the womb are also quite common, and mum can often feel the jerking movement from her baby inside her tummy.  

Why does a newborn baby hiccup? 

• Their digestive system is still immature 
• They have swallowed air while crying 
• They have swallowed air during a feed, from the breast or the bottle 
• They feel cold all of a sudden, for example when being undressed for a nappy change or bath. 

Should you worry?

Hiccups are completely harmless and usually don’t bother infants at all: they are simply part of these first months.  

How to get rid of baby hiccups 

In most cases, hiccups stop on their own after a few minutes and do not cause any discomfort to the baby. Sometimes, however, they can last longer, and an infant can show signs of discomfort and distress, such as becoming fussy or crying loudly. If this occurs, it is better to take action and try a few tips to help stop them. 

For obvious reasons, we can’t use the well-known method of holding your breath by closing your nose with your fingers (absolutely not!). How to get rid of newborn hiccups - here are some methods we can use: 

• Gently massage your baby’s back 
• Give your infant a dummy 
• Offer a feed (only if they haven’t just finished one): sucking can help them relax 
• During a feed, take a short break and rest them on your shoulder to encourage burping, which also helps to let out any excess air 
• If you are bottle-feeding, tilt the bottle at a 45° angle so that the air passes to the bottom of the bottle 
• At feeding time, find a comfortable position where your baby can feed calmly and swallow less air 
• It helps if they’re not overly-hungry at feeds, as this can lead to swallowing excess air, which consequently results in hiccups 

Don't worry if your baby starts to hiccup, as we’ve seen, it is a completely natural phenomenon. To reduce discomfort, you can try using one of the methods we’ve listed. As your baby develops, the frequency of hiccups will gradually decrease until they only happen once in a while, just as for us grown-ups.