Baby hiccups after feeding are almost always harmless and will stop on their own within 5 to 10 minutes. They happen because your baby’s diaphragm, the muscle that controls breathing, spasms briefly. This is extremely common in newborns and young infants, and there are a few simple things you can do to help them pass more quickly.
What to Do When Hiccups Start
If hiccups begin during a feeding, pause and change your baby’s position. Sit them upright on your lap or hold them against your shoulder, then gently rub or pat their back to encourage a burp. Trapped air in the stomach is a common hiccup trigger, and releasing it often resolves the episode quickly.
If burping doesn’t work right away, let your baby suck on a pacifier. The rhythmic sucking can help relax the diaphragm and ease the spasms. You can also simply wait it out. If the hiccups haven’t stopped after 5 to 10 minutes, try resuming the feeding for a few minutes. This alone usually does the trick.
The key is to stay calm. Hiccups bother parents far more than they bother babies. Your infant isn’t in pain, and the episode will pass.
How to Prevent Hiccups in the First Place
Most post-feeding hiccups come from swallowing air during a feed, eating too fast, or having an overly full stomach. A few adjustments to how and when you feed can make hiccups much less frequent.
Feed before your baby is frantic. A baby who is already crying from hunger will gulp and swallow more air. Try to start feeds when your baby is calm and showing early hunger cues, like rooting or bringing hands to their mouth, rather than waiting until they’re extremely upset.
Burp during the feeding, not just after. Pause halfway through a bottle or when switching breasts to burp your baby. This prevents a large air bubble from building up in the stomach.
Slow the flow for bottle-fed babies. Paced bottle feeding reduces the amount of air your baby swallows. Use a slow-flow nipple and hold the bottle in a flat, sideways position so the nipple is only about half full of milk. Watch for signs your baby needs a break: gulping, wide eyes, splayed fingers, or milk leaking from the corners of the mouth. When you see these, tilt the bottle down so the nipple empties but stays in your baby’s mouth, then bring it back up once they start sucking again at a comfortable pace.
Keep your baby upright after feeding. Holding your baby in an upright position for 10 to 15 minutes after a feed helps milk settle and reduces both hiccups and spit-up.
Skip Gripe Water and Home Remedies
You’ll find plenty of suggestions online about giving gripe water for hiccups. Most pediatricians don’t recommend it. Gripe water is classified as an herbal supplement, which means the FDA does not regulate it for safety or effectiveness. There is no proof it relieves gas, colic, or hiccups in babies.
The risks aren’t trivial. Gripe water products have been recalled multiple times due to bacterial contamination, choking hazards from undissolved ingredients, and even traces of harmful metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic. One study found that babies given gripe water were more likely to become constipated. The main active ingredient in most formulations is sugar, and pediatricians recommend that babies younger than 4 months consume only breast milk or formula.
Old folk remedies like startling the baby, pressing on the fontanelle, or pulling the tongue are ineffective and potentially dangerous. The safest approach is also the simplest: burp, reposition, and wait.
When Hiccups Signal Something Else
Occasional hiccups, even daily ones, are a normal part of infancy and tend to decrease as your baby’s digestive system matures. Most babies hiccup less frequently by the time they’re 6 to 12 months old.
Frequent, persistent hiccups paired with other symptoms can sometimes point to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In GERD, stomach acid flows back into the esophagus and irritates the diaphragm. Watch for these signs alongside the hiccups:
- Arching of the back or abnormal neck and chin movements during or after feeds
- Irritability during feeding combined with frequent spitting up
- Refusing to eat or loss of appetite
- Poor weight gain
- Choking, gagging, or difficulty swallowing
- Persistent cough or wheezing
More urgent signs that warrant immediate medical attention include projectile vomiting, vomit that is green, yellow, or contains blood, no wet diapers for 3 or more hours, and any breathing difficulties. Vomiting or significant reflux that begins before 2 weeks of age or after 6 months also falls outside the typical pattern and should be evaluated.
For the vast majority of babies, though, hiccups are just a quirk of having a brand-new nervous system. A good burp, a calm feeding environment, and a little patience are all you need.