Newborn Hiccups: Why They Happen and What to Do

Why Do Newborns Hiccup So Much?

If you are a new parent, you have almost certainly been startled by how frequently your newborn hiccups. It can feel like they are hiccupping more often than they are doing anything else, and it is natural to wonder whether something is wrong.

The short answer is: newborn hiccups are almost always entirely normal, extremely common, and harmless. They occur in all newborns and are particularly frequent in the early weeks and months of life.

The Physiological Explanation

A hiccup occurs when the diaphragm — the large, dome-shaped muscle beneath the lungs that controls breathing — contracts involuntarily and suddenly. This sharp inhalation causes the vocal cords to close abruptly, producing the characteristic "hic" sound.

In newborns, the diaphragm is immature. Like all the other systems in a newborn's body, it is still developing and calibrating. The neural control of the diaphragm — the signals from the nervous system that tell it when to contract and when to relax — is not yet fully refined. As a result, the diaphragm is prone to occasional misfires: sudden, involuntary contractions that produce a hiccup.

This is compounded by the fact that newborns have relatively small stomachs that fill quickly. A full or overstretched stomach presses against the diaphragm and can trigger hiccups directly. This is why hiccups are so often associated with feeds.

Interestingly, hiccupping begins well before birth. Foetal hiccups are detectable by ultrasound from around the second trimester and are thought to play a role in the development of the diaphragm and respiratory system. By the time a baby is born, hiccupping is already a well-practised reflex.

Are Hiccups Uncomfortable for Babies?

This is one of the most common parental concerns. Watching a small baby hiccupping repeatedly, particularly for extended periods, can look distressing. But the evidence and clinical consensus suggest that hiccups are not uncomfortable for newborns in the way they are for older children and adults.

Babies who are hiccupping are often entirely calm and content. They may continue feeding, fall asleep while hiccupping, or remain relaxed and unhurried. This is in marked contrast to an older child or adult, for whom persistent hiccups are genuinely uncomfortable. The discomfort in older individuals is thought to be partly due to the sensation itself and partly due to the interruption of normal breathing patterns — both of which appear to cause less distress in newborns.

If your baby is hiccupping and is otherwise calm, there is no need to intervene. They are not suffering.

What Causes More Frequent Hiccupping?

Feeding too quickly. Babies who feed very fast — whether breast or bottle — swallow more air and fill their stomachs more rapidly, both of which are triggers. For bottle-fed babies, a slower-flow teat can reduce this.

Overfeeding. A stomach that is very full puts pressure on the diaphragm. In bottle-fed babies, following paced bottle-feeding guidance helps avoid this.

Swallowing air. A poor latch during breastfeeding, or any feeding position that allows the baby to swallow excess air, can trigger hiccups.

No specific trigger. Often hiccups simply happen without any identifiable cause. The nervous system is maturing, and misfires are part of the process.

What Helps (If Anything)?

For newborns, the standard adult folk remedies for hiccups — holding your breath, drinking from the other side of a glass, being frightened — are neither appropriate nor effective.

The following may help, but none is reliably effective and none is necessary if the baby is otherwise content:

Offer feeding. Suckling — whether at the breast or on a bottle — can interrupt hiccups. The rhythmic sucking seems to relax the diaphragm. If your baby hiccups after a feed, offering a little more or offering a dummy may help.

Upright position. Holding your baby upright for a period after feeds can help with both winding and hiccups. Some parents find that gentle patting during this time helps the baby settle.

Wait. Most hiccupping episodes in newborns resolve within five to ten minutes without any intervention.

There is no evidence that "cures" such as water, sugar, or gripe water are effective for newborn hiccups, and gripe water in particular contains alcohol in some formulations outside the UK (UK-licensed versions do not, but it is worth checking the label).

When Hiccups After Feeds May Be a Sign of Reflux

In most cases, hiccups after feeds are entirely benign. However, when hiccups are consistently associated with other symptoms, they may be a feature of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR).

Reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach — milk and stomach acid — flow back up into the oesophagus. The lower oesophageal sphincter (the valve between the oesophagus and stomach) is immature in newborns and doesn't always close fully after swallowing, making reflux extremely common — studies suggest it occurs in around 50% of babies in the first three months of life. Most of the time, this is asymptomatic or causes only minor spitting up.

When reflux causes significant distress, it is called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Signs that hiccups may be associated with GORD include:

• Persistent, distressed crying after feeds
• Arching the back during or after feeds
• Repeated spitting up or vomiting (beyond typical newborn posseting)
• Apparent discomfort when laid flat
• Feeding reluctance (the baby associates feeding with pain)
• Hiccups that are frequent and accompanied by grimacing or distress

If you are concerned that your baby's hiccups may be related to reflux, speak to your health visitor or GP. They can assess the feeding pattern and, where appropriate, discuss whether a trial of positioning strategies or medication is warranted.

When Do Hiccups Reduce?

Most babies hiccup far less frequently by around three to four months of age, as the diaphragm matures and feeding becomes more coordinated. Some hiccupping continues throughout the first year and into toddlerhood, but the very frequent newborn hiccupping pattern usually settles by the end of the fourth month.

Newborn hiccups are one of those aspects of the fourth trimester that feels alarming and significant but is, in the vast majority of cases, simply part of a baby's normal development. Trust your instincts: if your baby is hiccupping but calm and feeding well, they are almost certainly fine.