How Do I Get Rid Of My Newborn’s Hiccups? | Calm Baby Tips

Newborn hiccups look dramatic, yet they’re part of normal baby life.

Most settle on their own, especially after feeds.

You can still help your little one feel comfy and keep feeds on track.

Below you’ll find gentle steps that are safe, simple, and easy to use in the moment.

Getting Rid Of Newborn Hiccups: Gentle Methods

Pick one idea, try it for a minute or two, then switch if needed.

Short, calm moves work best for tiny bellies and growing diaphragms.

Most babies need no treatment at all. If you want a reference, see the AAP guide on burping, hiccups and spit-up for a friendly overview.

What To Try	How To Do It	Why It Helps
Pause & Burp	Stop the feed, hold upright on your shoulder or seated; pat or rub until a burp rises.	Releases swallowed air that can trigger hic spams.
Switch Sides Or Pace	If breastfeeding, switch sides; if bottle feeding, pace the sips with brief tilts.	Slows intake so less air is gulped.
Check Nipple Flow	Use a slower flow or a well-vented bottle if milk seems to pour.	Fast flow can flood the mouth and add air.
Upright Hold	Keep baby mostly upright during and after feeds for 10–15 minutes.	Gravity helps settle the stomach and diaphragm.
Offer A Pacifier	Let baby suck briefly between or after feeds.	Rhythmic sucking can relax the diaphragm.
Skin-To-Skin	Hold baby against your bare chest under a blanket.	Calm breathing cues often settle spasms.
Gentle Rocking	Sway or walk while supporting the head and neck.	Smooth motion eases body tension.
Reset Position	If lying flat, pick up; if seated, recline a touch.	A small change can interrupt the spasm loop.

Feed Smart To Prevent Hiccups

Hiccups often pop up when feeds run fast or extra air gets trapped.

Tiny adjustments now tend to pay off at the next feeding.

Breastfeeding Tweaks That Help

• Aim for a deep latch: belly to belly, nose to nipple, chin touching the breast.
• If milk lets down fast, start in a laid-back position to slow the flow.
• Burp mid-feed and after the last latch.
• If baby fusses or coughs, unlatch, sit upright for a moment, then relatch.

Bottle Feeding Tweaks That Help

• Pick a slow-flow nipple and hold the bottle so milk just fills the tip.
• Try paced bottle feeding: tip to give a few swallows, lower to pause, then repeat.
• Keep baby angled about 45 degrees with the head higher than the tummy.
• Burp once or twice during the bottle and again at the end.

Burping Tricks That Actually Work

• Over-shoulder: chest on your shoulder, one hand supporting the bum, gentle pats.
• Seated lean: sit baby on your lap, support the chest and head, lean slightly forward, rub in circles.
• Tummy across lap: lay baby belly-down across your thighs and pat softly.

Pacifier And Soothing Moves

Short pacifier sessions can steady the breathing rhythm between feedings.

Use the right size, and keep it clean and intact.

If your baby doesn’t want it, skip it and try a cuddle, swaddle, or quiet hum.

What Not To Try

Skip sugar water, lemon, or folk cures. Do not startle your baby, pull the tongue, or tap the nose. Avoid water before six months; babies under 6 months shouldn’t have water. Honey is not safe before age one.

Safe Remedies Backed By Pediatric Advice

If hiccups ride along with frequent spit-ups, slow the feed and burp more often.

Keep baby upright after meals and watch for overfeeding cues such as back-arching or gulping.

An occasional pacifier break is fine; keep the strap short and never tie it around the neck.

Why Newborn Hiccups Happen

A hiccup is a quick squeeze of the diaphragm followed by a tiny closing of the vocal cords.

In newborns the reflex is overactive, which is why you hear those sharp squeaks so often.

Swallowed air and a full tummy can spark the reflex, and so can a strong letdown or a fast bottle.

You may have felt the pattern during pregnancy; many babies hiccup in the womb as the reflex matures.

Typical Triggers

• Fast milk flow at the start of a feed.
• Loose latch or a bottle angle that lets bubbles race in.
• Crying hard before a feed, which pulls in air.
• A tummy that fills quickly near the end of a session.
• A quick change from lying flat to a seated spot after a meal.

After-Feed Care Timeline

• Minute 0–2: Hold upright against your chest and breathe slowly together.
• Minute 2–5: Gentle pats or rubs to coax out one more burp.
• Minute 5–10: Keep upright in your arms or in a supported, reclined seat.
• Minute 10–15: If cozy and calm, try a pacifier or a quiet sway.
• Minute 15–20: Lay baby on the back in the crib or bassinet.

Gentle Positions That Calm The Diaphragm

Koala Hold

Sit upright with good back support and place baby straddling one thigh, tummy to your chest.

Support the head at the base of the skull and keep the spine aligned.

This position gives nice tummy pressure without slouching.

Football Hold

Slide your forearm under baby’s body with the tummy on your arm, face toward your elbow, legs tucked at your side.

Keep the head slightly higher than the chest and pat the back with your free hand.

Great for quick burps between sides or between bottle pauses.

Tummy-Down Across Lap

Lay baby belly-down across your lap with the head turned to the side and slightly higher than the hips.

Rub the back in small circles.

A few calm breaths here can reset the spasm pattern.

Simple Tools That Make It Easier

• Two nipple flows on hand so you can downshift during a growth spurt.
• A vented bottle if your baby prefers bottles and tends to gulp.
• A soft burp cloth draped high on the shoulder so you can pat with both hands free.
• A light swaddle after the meal if your baby startles easily.
• A white-noise track during the evening cluster feed to keep the mood quiet.

Sample Feeding Plan For A Hiccups-Prone Newborn

Use this as a template and adjust to your baby’s cues.

The aim is a calm start, a steady middle, and a gentle finish.

1. Start in a laid-back or side-lying position to limit fast flow.
2. Latch deeply or begin the bottle already tilted to just fill the nipple.
3. Pause at two-minute marks to listen for gulps and add a burp if needed.
4. Change sides or pause the bottle after four to six minutes.
5. Finish with an upright cuddle and a short pacifier break if your baby wants it.

Bottle And Breastfeeding Fixes: Quick Checklist

Sign You Notice	What To Check	Try This
Coughing Or Sputtering	Flow may be too fast.	Move to a slower nipple or reclined nursing.
Lots Of Burps Or Gas	Extra air is sneaking in.	Deepen the latch and pause to burp twice.
Frequent Hiccups After Feeds	Pace may be brisk.	Smaller feeds with built-in breaks.
Back-Arching Or Pulling Off	Possible strong letdown or fast bottle.	Start laid-back or tip the bottle to pause.
Gulping Sounds	Seal at the lips is loose.	Re-latch or switch nipple shape/size.
Hard Time Settling	Stomach feels full.	Hold upright 10–20 minutes before laying down.

When Hiccups Signal Something Else

Call your pediatrician if hiccups seem painful, make feeding tough, wake your baby over and over, or come with blue lips, breathing trouble, or poor weight gain.

Reach out as well for repeated, forceful spit-ups, blood in vomit, fever, or if your newborn looks unwell.

Day-To-Day Routine That Keeps Hiccups Rare

• Stick with smaller, more frequent meals during growth spurts.
• Keep a clean burp cloth handy and pause early at the first gulping sounds.
• Use upright babywearing after feeds if it keeps the tummy calm.
• Build a calm feed space: dim light, soft voice, unhurried pace.

Sleep, Hiccups, And Safe Positions

Hiccups during sleep can look noisy, yet babies usually drift right through.

If they wake, pick up for a brief burp and a cuddle, then place baby back on the back to sleep on a firm, flat surface.

Skip pillows and inclined sleepers.

A short upright hold before putting baby down often prevents a repeat.

Common Myths, Clear Facts

• Hiccups don’t mean your baby is cold or sick on their own.
• Rice cereal in a bottle is not a fix and can be unsafe unless advised by your clinician.
• Gripe water hasn’t shown clear benefits in studies and can contain herbs your infant doesn’t need.
• Most babies outgrow frequent hiccups as feeding skills mature.

Quick Reference: What To Try First

• Pause the feed and burp.
• Check the latch or switch to a slower bottle nipple.
• Hold upright for 10–15 minutes.
• Offer a brief pacifier session.
• Change positions and reset the rhythm.

Keep moves calm; babies pick up your steady rhythm.