Stopping your baby’s hiccups can be something of a challenge. The fact of the matter is that hiccups are a very common and normal thing for babies to experience. At least a part of the reason that babies hiccup is that their neuromuscular system is still immature and developing. In some cases, the reflux that is common in infants can cause your baby’s airway to start to become irritated, or it can even cause a bubble that will make your baby start hiccuping. Once your baby does start to hiccup, he or she may not stop for quite a long time. The good news is that there may be ways to stop your baby’s hiccups.
Gripe water is one product that you might use to try to stop your baby’s hiccups. Gripe water is designed, mainly, to help out a baby that has colic. However, the ingredients contained in gripe water are known to help with a variety of gastrointestinal discomforts, such as those that cause hiccups. One of the main ingredients in gripe water is fennel. Fennel is a safe and natural treatment that has been used for over a century. Fennel helps not only with hiccups, but also with gas and an upset stomach. Another common ingredient in gripe water is sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate is useful in that it helps to decrease the acidity of the stomach, which may prevent some of the reflux that causes hiccups, or that makes it painful for the hiccupping baby.
There are other things that you can try doing to stop your baby’s hiccups. One thing that may stop your baby’s hiccups is trying to burp your baby more frequently during feedings. It may be that merely feeding your baby, whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, can help your hiccuping baby. The swallowing and sucking that accompany feeding can help to relax the diaphragm muscle that contracts during hiccups. This is the same principle that adults use when they drink a glass of water to try to stop their own hiccups.
Generally, you don’t have to stop your baby’s hiccups. They will usually disappear within a few minutes or so, and hiccups are usually not considered to be dangerous to your baby either. If your baby is hiccuping for a long time and you cannot stop him or her, or if your baby is struggling with breathing due to hiccups or seems to be in pain, you should consider speaking to your health care provider.