Baby Hiccups: Why They Happen and What to Do

If your newborn hiccups constantly, you're not alone. Hiccups are one of the most common (and harmless) newborn quirks — and understanding why they happen makes them far less alarming.

Why do babies hiccup so much?

Hiccups are caused by the diaphragm — the large muscle that controls breathing — contracting involuntarily. When the diaphragm spasms, air is quickly sucked into the lungs, and the vocal cords snap shut, creating that distinctive "hic" sound.

In babies, this happens frequently because:

• The diaphragm is immature and easily irritated
• Feeding — especially gulping air — stimulates the diaphragm
• The stomach sits just below the diaphragm; when full, it presses on it

Hiccups often begin in the womb from around 6 weeks of gestation, and many parents feel them as a rhythmic fluttery sensation before birth.

Are hiccups harmful?

In almost all cases: no. Hiccups in babies are normal and don't cause discomfort for most infants. Your baby can feed, sleep, and breathe completely normally through them.

What causes hiccups to start?

• Feeding too fast — gulping milk quickly irritates the diaphragm
• Swallowing air during feeding
• Overfeeding — a full, stretched stomach pressing on the diaphragm
• Temperature changes
• Excitement or stimulation — especially in the newborn period

How to help

During or after a feed

• Pause the feed and wind mid-way — especially if baby is feeding fast or gulping
• Try a slower flow teat if bottle feeding — paced bottle feeding reduces air intake significantly
• Adjust breastfeeding latch — a deep latch reduces the air swallowed
• Keep baby upright for 20–30 minutes after feeding
• Gentle back patting while holding upright

During a hiccup spell

• Let them pass — most hiccups stop within 5–10 minutes
• Try offering a brief breastfeed or a little water (if over 6 months) — the swallowing movement can help reset the diaphragm
• Gentle back rub in circular motions

Things NOT to do

• Don't startle your baby — the "shock cure" doesn't work and is distressing
• Don't hold their nose or cover their mouth
• Don't give gripe water to very young babies without checking with a pharmacist first
• Don't panic — hiccups are almost never a sign of anything wrong

When to speak to your GP

Hiccups become worth investigating if:

• They are extremely frequent — every single day, multiple times, for many weeks
• They seem to genuinely distress your baby (rather than just look funny)
• They're associated with other symptoms like significant reflux, poor feeding, or weight gain issues

In these cases, reflux can sometimes cause hiccups by irritating the oesophagus. But this is uncommon — most hiccupping babies are simply hiccupping babies.

The short answer

Newborn hiccups are normal, harmless, and something almost every parent deals with. They tend to become less frequent as your baby's digestive system matures — usually noticeably better by 3–4 months.