5 Reasons why a baby hiccups?
We all experience hiccups many times in our life. Baby hiccups is also a very normal thing and is observed in all newborn babies. It is nothing to be alarmed about. In fact, hiccups can also occur while the baby is in the mummy’s womb.
Babies have hiccups mostly after a feed. Hiccups occur frequently in babies who are under six months old and may last for a minute or an hour. According to doctors, hiccups are caused because of repetitive contractions of the diaphragm and also because the organs of an infant are immature and need time to develop. And as the baby grows, organs start to develop and the frequency of hiccups is reduced.
The main reasons for hiccups or contraction of the diaphragm are-
Sudden temperature
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Distract the baby
This one is a no-brainer. Just as adult hiccups can be stopped by scaring a person or creating doubt, one can also stop hiccups in babies by distracting them. Distracting the baby may stop hiccups and this can be done by using simple ways like putting the baby on a rocking chair for a few minutes.
#7. Give a pacifier
If the hiccups were not triggered by a feed, you may try giving a pacifier to your baby. This can help to relax the diaphragm.
#8. Allow them to stop by themselves
Most of the times, hiccups do stop on their own. So, if your baby doesn’t seem to get irritated by the hiccups, you can allow them to stop on their own.
When to see the doctor?
Hiccups are considered to be normal and good for baby’s growth so you may try to stop them if the baby is getting irritated but never give water to stop them. Doctors advise that water should not be given to babies before 6 months and one should not attempt to stop the hiccups with breast milk. As soon as baby crosses the age of six months, usually hiccups vanish on their own.
However, there are certain conditions, in which you need to see a doctor:
Frequent Hiccups
If your baby experiences hiccups very often and gets irritated or uncomfortable due to them, it is advisable to consult your