Babies often hiccup due to crying, feeding, or swallowing too quickly. Like adults, infants have a thin muscle called the diaphragm between the chest and abdominal cavities, which separates and protects the organs. Unlike adults, babies primarily use abdominal breathing. When a baby feeds too quickly or inhales cold air, it stimulates the autonomic nervous system, causing a sudden contraction of the diaphragm, resulting in a quick inhalation and the sound of hiccup. When this sound is produced rhythmically, it is known as baby hiccups.
There are several effective methods to relieve baby hiccups:
1. When a baby hiccups, pick them up and gently pat their back while giving them some warm water to drink.
2. Hold the baby and gently tickle their mouth or ears with the tip of your finger. Usually, the baby will cry and the hiccups will naturally disappear.
3. Pick up the baby and stimulate the soles of their feet to make them cry, which will stop the sudden contraction of the diaphragm.
4. Avoid feeding the baby when they are excessively hungry or crying intensely, as this is also one of the measures to prevent baby hiccups.
