Pause feeding, burp mid-meal, hold upright, offer a pacifier, and wait; newborn hiccups usually pass on their own unless paired with distress.
Newborn hiccups are common and usually harmless. That tiny diaphragm is still learning the rhythm of breathing and feeding, so little spasms pop up a lot. Most episodes fade quickly, and most babies don’t mind them. Still, when hiccups interrupt a feed, a few small moves can make life easier for both of you.
Helping A Newborn With Hiccups: Safe, Simple Steps
Start with the basics. If hiccups begin during a feed, pause. Bring your baby upright against your chest, head on your shoulder, and pat or rub the upper back with gentle, steady strokes. A short break lets swallowed air rise and the diaphragm settle. When the clicks slow and the latch looks calm again, resume the feed.
Between feeds, offer a pacifier for a minute. Sucking can relax the diaphragm and ease the spasms. You can also try a change of position: upright on your chest, or in a carrier with the airway clear. Keep movements slow; jostling soon after a feed tends to bring up milk.
| Action | What To Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pause And Burp | Stop the feed, hold upright, pat the back for 30–60 seconds. | Releases swallowed air that can trigger hiccup spasms. |
| Check The Latch | Look for wide mouth, flared lips, steady suck-swallow-breathe pattern. | Reduces air intake that feeds hiccups and gassiness. |
| Slow The Flow | Use paced bottle feeding or a slower nipple, tilt bottle just enough to fill the teat. | Prevents gulps and extra air. |
| Offer A Pacifier | Let baby suck briefly while upright. | Soothes the diaphragm and settles breathing rhythm. |
| Hold Upright After | Keep baby on your shoulder or chest for 10–20 minutes post-feed. | Gravity keeps milk down and air moving up. |
Feeding Tweaks That Cut Down Hiccups
Small adjustments during feeds go a long way. Use paced bottle feeding with short pauses, or switch breasts once swallowing slows. Breaks for burping during and after a feed keep air from building up. Many parents also notice fewer hiccups with smaller, more frequent feeds, instead of stretching the clock and ending up with gulping.
You don’t need complex moves, just calm rhythm and sound positioning. Keep your baby’s head higher than the stomach while feeding and for a short window afterward. That angle, plus burp breaks, lines up with Mayo Clinic advice on reducing spit-up and air swallowing. If you’re reading while a feed is underway, try a quick pause now and see whether the next minutes feel smoother. You can also review HealthyChildren guidance on burping and hiccups.
Burping Positions That Work
Over The Shoulder
Hold your baby high on your shoulder so the upper chest rests against you, with the chin at or above the shoulder line. Support the neck, then pat or rub the back from the lower ribs upward. Short, steady pats beat hard thumps every time.
Seated On Lap
Sit your baby on your thigh facing sideways, one hand supporting the chest and jaw, the other patting the back. Keep the head forward, not tipped down. This position gives you a clear view of cues and helps many babies bring up a burp fast.
Across Your Lap
Lay your baby belly-down across your thighs with the head slightly higher than the chest. Support the forehead or jaw and pat the back. This one can settle hiccups and gas while giving a gentle tummy massage.
Soothing Moves Between Feeds
Hiccups outside of feeding windows rarely need anything. If your baby seems content, let the episode pass. If your baby looks annoyed, try a minute of pacifier time, a slow walk while upright on your chest, or skin-to-skin cuddles. Keep noisy play and big lifts for later; calm wins here.
A warm bath later in the day can relax tight muscles, which may quiet hiccups next time they pop up. Keep bath time short if you just fed, and always hold steady support under the neck and shoulders.
What Not To Do With A Hiccuping Newborn
Skip folk tricks meant for adults. Don’t startle, don’t flip your baby upside down, don’t give sugar water, vinegar, or sips of plain water under six months, and don’t cover the face with a paper bag. These are unsafe for infants and won’t fix the spasm cycle. Many families ask about gripe water; some find it soothing, but research is limited, and ingredients vary. Talk with your baby’s doctor before giving any product.
When Hiccups Point To Something Else
Frequent hiccups paired with hard crying, coughing or choking during feeds, bluish color, trouble breathing, or poor weight gain need a call to your pediatrician. So does vomiting that shoots across the room, or hiccups that seem to last far longer than usual. Most babies outgrow the hiccup flurries as feeding skills improve; persistent trouble can mean reflux, a flow that’s too fast, or another feeding issue that deserves a hands-on look.
| Sign | What You See | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding Distress | Coughing, sputtering, color change with feeds. | Stop the feed, keep upright, call your pediatrician. |
| Poor Growth | Fewer wet diapers, slow weight gain, tired feeds. | Reach out for a feeding check and weight review. |
| Projectile Vomit | Forceful spray after feeds. | Seek medical care the same day. |
| Long Episodes | Hiccups that linger far longer than usual. | Ask about reflux or other causes. |
| Worry That Won’t Lift | Your gut says something is off. | Call. A quick chat can save days of guessing. |
Hiccups, Reflux, And Spit-Up: The Overlap
Many babies hiccup, burp, and spit up during the same stretch of months. The fixes overlap too: smaller feeds, slow flow, upright holds, and time for burping. If spit-up joins the picture, keep your baby’s head higher than the chest during and after feeds, and give the tummy a rest from bouncy seats right after eating. These tips mirror guidance from pediatric groups and match what many parents find at home.
Bottle, Breast, And Flow: Finding The Sweet Spot
With bottles, watch the nipple flow. If milk pours out even when your baby pauses, move to a slower flow. Hold the bottle so milk fills the teat without flooding it, and let your baby set the pace. With breastfeeding, a wide latch and a snug hold help your baby seal well and swallow less air. If the let-down feels fast, try laid-back nursing, which leans your body so gravity slows the stream.
Signs of air intake include clicking sounds, dimpling cheeks, and frequent unlatching. If you see those on repeat, ask a lactation professional to watch a feed and tune the latch and position. A small tweak often cuts hiccups and gassiness the same day.
A Calm Routine You Can Try Tonight
Before the feed: Change the diaper first, then swaddle arms loosely if your baby likes that, and dim the lights. Start the feed when your baby shows early hunger cues: rooting, hands to mouth, light fussing. Avoid letting hunger build to hard crying, which invites gulping.
During the feed: Keep your baby’s head above the stomach. With a bottle, think “horizontal” pacing: tip just enough to fill the teat, then pause every few minutes for a brief burp. With breastfeeding, switch sides when swallowing slows. If hiccups start, pause and burp; resume once the rhythm looks easy again.
After the feed: Hold upright on your shoulder for 10–20 minutes. Skip rough play. If your baby spits up, keep the next window gentle and quiet. When sleepy cues show up, place your baby on the back for sleep in a clear, firm crib.
Between feeds: If hiccups pop up and your baby seems content, let them ride. If your baby looks annoyed, try a minute of pacifier time or an upright cuddle. Track your pattern for a few days; many families spot a simple trigger, like a nipple that flows fast in the evening.