Baby Hiccups After Feeding: Why They Happen & How to Stop Them
Hiccups are a common occurrence in babies, especially after feeding. It occurs when the diaphragm contracts, which forces air out through closed vocal chords, creating the characteristic "hic" sound. In most cases, hiccups are harmless, don’t really cause your baby any distress and will usually go away on their own. Although there is nothing to worry about, there are a few things you can do to help prevent hiccups:
How to Stop Baby Hiccups: Gentle Home Remedies
While hiccups often resolve naturally, these gentle techniques may help reduce or stop them.
Hold Your Baby Upright After Feeding
Keeping your baby upright helps prevent air from entering the stomach too quickly.
✔️ Hold your baby upright for 15–20 minutes after a feed
✔️ This can be especially helpful after bottle feeding
Burp Your Baby Frequently
Trapped air is a common trigger for hiccups.
- Gently pat your baby’s back
- Try rubbing their tummy
- Burp during and after feeds, not just at the end
Frequent burping can reduce swallowed air and help prevent hiccups.
Adjust Your Baby’s Feeding Position
Feeding position plays a big role in air intake.
✔️ Feed your baby in a slightly upright position
✔️ Ensure the bottle teat is full of milk
✔️ Avoid rushing feeds
This helps minimise air swallowing during feeding.
While hiccups are usually caused by feeding technique or trapped air, many parents find that choosing a gentle, organic milk formula can support comfortable feeding. Carefully prepared organic formula milk, when mixed correctly and fed at a relaxed pace, may help reduce excess air swallowing during feeds.
Use a Dummy
Sucking can help regulate breathing and swallowing.
- A dummy may help regulate breathing and swallowing
- It can relax your baby and reduce hiccups
Only offer a dummy if your baby already uses one comfortably.
Massage Your Baby’s Back
Gentle touch can help relax muscles involved in hiccups.
- Massage in slow, circular motions
- Start at the shoulders and move downward
This can be soothing for both hiccups and general fussiness.
Try White Noise
Over-stimulation or crying can trigger hiccups.
White noise can:
- Calm an unsettled baby
- Help distract them from hiccups
You can use a white noise machine or simply hum or shush softly.
Avoid Spicy Foods (If Breastfeeding)
If you’re breastfeeding:
- Spicy foods may irritate your baby’s stomach
If your baby is older and eating solids, avoid spicy foods that could trigger discomfort.
Sometimes, the best solution is to wait
In many cases:
- Baby hiccups will stop on their own
- No intervention is needed
If your baby seems comfortable, it’s perfectly fine to let hiccups pass naturally.
Why Do Babies Get Hiccups?
Hiccups happen when a baby’s diaphragm contracts suddenly, forcing air through closed vocal cords and creating the familiar “hic” sound.
Common reasons baby hiccups occur include:
- Swallowing air during feeding
- Feeding too quickly
- Over-excitement or crying
- A developing digestive system
In most cases, hiccups are harmless, don’t really cause your baby any distress and will usually go away on their own.
When Should You Seek Medical Advice?
While most hiccups are harmless, hiccuping during feeds can also be a sign of reflux. If your baby’s hiccuping is accompanied by other symptoms such as below your baby maybe have reflux and you should contact your healthcare professional:
- They’re bringing up milk or being sick during or shortly after a feed
- They’re coughing and/ or are unsettled during a feed
- They’re generally not settling and are crying more than normal
- They’re not gaining weight
- They’re gulping or swallowing after being burped or fed
Although you may want to try some of these tips, hiccups are a common occurrence in babies and generally nothing to worry about. If you have any other concerns it's best to also contact your healthcare professional.