How Do I Get Rid Of Hiccups In My Newborn? | Quick Fixes

Newborn hiccups can sound loud for such a tiny chest, and they tend to show up right after a feed or during a sleepy cuddle. Most of the time they pass without any trouble. You don’t need fancy tricks, just a few small tweaks that make feeding calmer and cut down on swallowed air. This guide walks through safe, baby-friendly steps that work at home and signs that point to a call with your pediatrician.

Why Newborns Get Hiccups

Hiccups come from brief spasms of the diaphragm, the thin muscle under the lungs. When that muscle twitches, the vocal cords close for a split second and you hear that “hic.” In babies, extra air in the stomach can nudge the diaphragm and set off that reflex. Common sparks include fast feeds, a shallow latch, a bottle nipple that flows too quickly, or an extra-full tummy. Some babies also hiccup in the womb, so the reflex is already well rehearsed by birth.

Hiccups rarely bother a healthy newborn. If they show up with coughs, arching, crying through feeds, or frequent spit-up, reflux may be in the mix and worth a chat with your doctor. Otherwise, think comfort, pace, and gentle burps.

Quick View: Triggers And What Helps

Match the situation on the left with a simple action that eases air intake and settles the diaphragm.

Trigger	Why It Happens	What To Try
Fast gulping at the breast or bottle	Extra air stretches the stomach	Pause, burp, then resume at a calmer pace
Over-hungry baby latching in a rush	Shallow latch pulls in air	Start feeds earlier and aim for a deeper latch
Bottle nipple flows too quickly	Baby can’t coordinate suck-swallow	Switch to a slower-flow nipple and pace the bottle
Overfull tummy after a large feed	Stomach presses up under diaphragm	Offer smaller, more frequent feeds
Lots of wiggles during a feed	Air sneaks in between swallows	Hold baby close and steady; belly-to-belly
Little or no burping during feeds	Trapped air builds up	Burp during natural pauses and at the end
Laid-flat feeding position	Milk and air pool together	Feed with baby more upright
Post-feed bounce play	Jostling brings on air bubbles	Keep baby upright and calm for 10–15 minutes
Occasional reflux symptoms	Stomach contents creep upward	Use upright feeds and frequent pauses; ask your doctor if symptoms persist

Getting Rid Of Newborn Hiccups: Parent-Tested Steps

Pause The Feed

If hiccups pop up mid-meal, stop for a moment. Hold your baby upright against your chest and let the rhythm settle. A short break lowers the pace and trims air intake.

Burp Gently And Often

Give soft pats or rubs during natural pauses and at the end. Many babies settle when you burp a bottle-fed baby every 2–3 ounces and a breastfed baby when switching sides. Keeping baby upright for 10–15 minutes after the feed also helps gas rise and exit without drama.

Keep Baby Upright

Angle baby so the head sits above the tummy during and after feeds. Upright positioning pairs well with paced bottle feeding and with a snug, deep latch at the breast.

Check Latch Or Bottle Flow

With breastfeeding, watch for flanged lips and a wide mouthful of areola, not just the nipple tip. With bottles, test the nipple: milk should drip, not stream. If baby coughs, gulps, or pulls off often, try a slower flow.

Use Pacifier Soothing

The suck pattern on a pacifier can relax the diaphragm and quiet the “hic” cycle. Offer it after a feed, not in place of a meal.

Keep The Scene Calm

Bright lights, loud noise, and lots of movement can make a new feeder work too hard. Dim the room, tuck a swaddle around the shoulders (not the hips), and let baby settle between swallows.

Trusted, Baby-Safe Guidance

You’ll find clear feeding and burping tips in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guide to baby burping, hiccups, and spit-up. Cleveland Clinic also explains why hiccups show up and simple ways to calm them, including pacifier soothing and paced feeds, in its overview of what to do when your baby has the hiccups.

What Not To Do With Baby Hiccups

• Don’t startle, shake, or blow on your baby. Those tricks are unsafe.
• Skip sugar, lemon, or vinegar on the tongue. Babies don’t need these.
• No paper bags, breath-holding ideas, or pinched noses. Those are adult myths and unsafe for infants.
• Be cautious with gripe water and herbal drops. Evidence is limited, and some products vary in ingredients. Ask your pediatrician before trying any supplement.
• Avoid big, bouncy play right after feeds. Quiet cuddle time wins here.

Prevention During Feeds

Set The Pace

Use a slower-flow bottle nipple and pace the bottle so baby sucks, pauses, then swallows. With breastfeeding, switch sides when swallowing slows and burp at each change.

Feed A Little Sooner

A calm, early start often leads to a deeper latch and fewer gulps of air. Watch for stirring, rooting, and hand-to-mouth cues instead of waiting for hard crying.

Hold Close And Upright

Keep your baby’s belly snug against your body, chin tipped slightly down, and nose clear. This alignment makes swallowing smoother and lowers sputters and squeaks.

Breaks That Help

Build in short pauses every few minutes. Use those moments to burp, check the latch, and let breathing settle.

Bottle And Breast Tips That Reduce Hiccups

Breastfeeding Tweaks

Bring your baby to you instead of leaning forward. Tummy-to-tummy contact steadies the latch. Aim for lips flanged out, chin touching the breast, and more areola showing above the top lip than below. Count swallows; you’ll hear a soft “kah” sound. When the pattern slows, pause for a burp and then offer the other side. If your let-down feels strong and baby sputters or pulls off, try a laid-back nursing position so gravity softens the flow. You can also hand-express a tiny amount before latching to smooth the first minute.

Bottle-Feeding Tweaks

Hold the bottle nearly horizontal so milk doesn’t rush. Let baby draw the nipple into the mouth rather than pushing it in. Watch the corners of the mouth for small bubbles and steady swallows. If the cheeks dimple or the forehead frowns, the flow may be too fast. Try a smaller hole size, pace the sips with brief tilts of the bottle, and add burp breaks. Switch sides halfway through the feed to mimic the rhythm of nursing and to give your baby a visual change that keeps the body relaxed.

When Hiccups Mean It’s Time To Call

Most spells fade with time and gentle care. Call your pediatrician if hiccups keep breaking sleep or feeds, or if any of the signs below show up often.

Red Flag	What It Can Point To	Next Step
Frequent spit-up plus crying or arching with feeds	Possible reflux irritation	Use upright feeds and call the office for next steps
Coughing or choking during most feeds	Flow too fast or swallow-breath mismatch	Try slower flow and ask about a feeding assessment
Blue tint, pauses in breathing, or limpness	Emergency signs	Seek urgent care right away
Poor weight gain or fewer wet diapers	Not getting enough milk	Call promptly for a feeding plan
Hiccups that last many minutes and always disrupt sleep	Irritation beyond the usual reflex	Log patterns and share with your clinician

Sample Flow When Hiccups Start

1. Stop the feed and hold your baby upright on your chest. Take calm breaths; babies mirror your pace.
2. Burp with light pats or slow circles for up to two minutes. No results? That’s fine. Move on.
3. Check the setup: deeper latch or a slower-flow nipple, and a more upright body angle.
4. Resume the feed for a few minutes. Watch for relaxed hands and steady swallows.
5. If the “hic” returns, repeat the pause-and-burp cycle once more.
6. After the feed, keep baby upright for 10–15 minutes. A soft pacifier can smooth the last few spasms.

Night hiccups can sound loud in a quiet room. If your baby is calm and breathing feels easy, you can wait and watch for a moment. If your baby stirs or seems bothered, use the same steps above. Keep lights low, speak softly, and move slowly so the next sleep stretch comes sooner.

Three Easy Burping Positions

Over-Shoulder

Hold baby high on your chest with the head resting on your shoulder. Hold the neck and give gentle pats or circles on the back.

Sit-Up On Your Lap

Seat baby on your knees facing sideways. Hold the chest and chin with one hand, then pat the upper back with the other.

Tummy-Down Across Your Lap

Lay baby across your thighs, head slightly higher than the chest. Rub or pat the back in slow circles.

A Calm Routine You Can Repeat

Hiccups are a normal part of baby life. A gentle pause, a good burp, and an upright cuddle usually do the trick. Feed with an easy pace, keep the latch deep, and use those brief breaks to help air rise. If the signs in the red-flag table crop up, call your pediatrician and share a short log of feeds, burps, spit-ups, and sleep. Small changes often lead to quieter feeds and a happier belly for most babies.