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Table of Contents
What Not to Do
Prevention
When to Seek Care
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Newborn hiccups usually last a few minutes and do not require medical intervention. If you’d like to help your little one get over them sooner, you can try some gentle measures.
Use a Pacifier
Change Position
Usually, the best position to get rid of hiccups is being upright, whether that’s on your shoulder or sitting on your lap. However, it’s also OK to lie babies down if they have the hiccups, as long as they aren’t having any trouble breathing or showing any signs of distress.
Try Gripe Water
There are manyhiccup remedies for adultsthat are not safe for babies:
How to Prevent Hiccups in Babies
It may not always be possible to prevent newborn hiccups because hiccups are a natural reflex for babies.However, there are actions that you can take to lower your child’s risk of hiccups.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Hiccups can occur at any age and are almost always harmless in babies. Studies show that they are more common in preterm infants than those born at full-term.
While uncommon, hiccups could be a sign ofgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)in babies.Talk with your child’s healthcare provider if your child is experiencing frequent bouts of hiccups, along with other signs of GERD.
Signs of infant GERD may include:
Summary
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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MedlinePlus.Hiccups.
OSF Healthcare.Why do babies get hiccups?
Fairview Health Services.Stuffy nose, sneezing, and hiccups in newborns.
DailyMed.Label: gripe water liquid.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Newborn reflexes.
Gaertner VD, Waldmann AD, Bassler D, Hooper SB, Rüegger CM.Intrapulmonary volume changes during hiccups versus spontaneous breaths in a preterm infant.Neonatology. 2022;119(4):525-529. doi:10.1159/000524194
Brañuelas Quiroga J, Urbano García J, Bolaños Guedes J.Hiccups: a common problem with some unusual causes and cures.Br J Gen Pract. 2016;66(652):584–586. doi:10.3399/bjgp16X687913
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD in infants.
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