Quick Answer
Hiccups are extremely common in newborns and are usually harmless. They happen when the diaphragm contracts involuntarily, followed by a quick closure of the vocal cords that creates the familiar "hic" sound. Newborns can hiccup before they're even born, and many continue to hiccup frequently after birth. Feeding, swallowing air, or a full stomach may sometimes trigger an episode. Most hiccups resolve on their own and don't require treatment.
Key Takeaways
- Hiccups are common in healthy newborns.
- Babies can begin hiccupping before birth.
- Hiccups result from involuntary contractions of the diaphragm.
- Feeding may sometimes trigger hiccups.
- Hiccups usually bother parents more than they bother babies.
- Most episodes stop without intervention.
- Parents should not use adult hiccup remedies on newborns.
- Feeding technique may help if hiccups frequently occur during or after feeds.
- Hiccups alone do not mean a baby has reflux disease.
- Hiccups accompanied by feeding, breathing, growth, or other health concerns should be discussed with the baby's healthcare provider.
Introduction
Hic.
Hic.
Hic.
There they go again.
Your newborn has just finished eating, and suddenly their entire tiny body seems to jump with every hiccup.
Five minutes later, they're still going.
And because you're a new parent, a perfectly reasonable question enters your mind:
Is this normal?
For most newborns, the answer is yes.
In fact, many parents remember feeling their baby hiccup during pregnancy.
Those rhythmic little movements that seemed to happen over and over in the womb?
They may have been hiccups.
After birth, the phenomenon continues—and some newborns seem remarkably talented at it.
What Actually Causes a Hiccup?
A hiccup begins with the diaphragm.
The diaphragm is a large muscle beneath the lungs that plays an important role in breathing.
When the diaphragm contracts involuntarily, the vocal cords quickly close.
That combination produces the familiar:
Hic!
Newborn nervous and respiratory systems are still maturing, and hiccups are common during this period.
Most episodes are temporary and stop without anyone doing anything at all.
Why Do Newborns Hiccup More Than Adults?
Newborns appear particularly prone to hiccups.
Part of the reason may simply be that their bodies and nervous systems are still developing.
Their feeding patterns are also very different from ours.
Newborns eat frequently.
Their stomachs are small.
They may swallow air while feeding.
Their stomachs can become full relatively quickly.
All of those factors may contribute to episodes of hiccups.
But frequent hiccups in an otherwise comfortable, healthy newborn are generally not considered abnormal.
Why Does My Baby Hiccup After Feeding?
Parents often notice hiccups shortly after breastfeeding or bottle feeding.
Feeding may contribute because the stomach expands as it fills.
Swallowed air may also play a role.
Some babies seem particularly likely to hiccup when they:
- Feed quickly.
- Become very hungry before feeding.
- Swallow significant amounts of air.
- Take a large feeding.
- Become upset during feeding.
That doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong with the feeding.
It may simply be your baby's pattern.
Should I Stop Feeding If My Baby Gets Hiccups?
Not necessarily.
Some babies will happily continue feeding through hiccups.
Others may become frustrated.
If your baby develops hiccups during a feeding and seems uncomfortable, you can pause briefly.
Try:
- Repositioning your baby.
- Offering an opportunity to burp.
- Allowing them to settle.
- Resuming the feeding when they're ready.
If the baby is comfortable and feeding effectively, hiccups alone aren't necessarily a reason to end the feeding.
Follow your baby's cues.
Can Burping Prevent Hiccups?
Sometimes burping may help, particularly if your baby has swallowed air during a feeding.
But burping isn't a guaranteed hiccup cure.
Some babies burp easily.
Some don't.
And some will hiccup regardless.
Rather than aggressively trying to produce a burp, give your baby a reasonable opportunity and follow their cues.
A baby who seems perfectly comfortable doesn't need an elaborate intervention simply because they're hiccupping.
Do Hiccups Mean My Baby Has Reflux?
Not by themselves.
This is an important distinction.
Hiccups can occur in babies who spit up frequently.
They can also occur in babies who rarely spit up.
Hiccups alone are not enough to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease or another feeding problem.
Parents should be cautious about attributing every newborn behavior—hiccups, grunting, arching, fussiness, or spit-up—to reflux.
If your baby has persistent feeding difficulties, significant discomfort, poor weight gain, repeated forceful vomiting, blood in vomit or stool, or other concerning symptoms, discuss them with your pediatrician.
Diagnosis belongs with your baby's healthcare provider.
Do Hiccups Hurt Newborns?
Usually, they don't appear to.
An episode can look uncomfortable to an adult because we're imagining how irritating hiccups feel to us.
But many newborns remain completely relaxed during them.
Some babies:
- Continue feeding.
- Look around calmly.
- Fall asleep.
- Remain asleep.
If your baby appears content, you don't necessarily need to stop the hiccups.
Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing.
Can a Baby Sleep With Hiccups?
If your newborn is comfortable and otherwise well, hiccups alone do not necessarily mean you need to keep them awake.
Continue following safe sleep practices.
Place your baby:
- On their back.
- On a firm, flat, non-inclined sleep surface.
- In an appropriate crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard.
- Without pillows, blankets, positioners, stuffed animals, or other loose objects.
Do not change your baby's sleep position because they have hiccups.
Don't Use Adult Hiccup Remedies on a Newborn
Adults have invented countless hiccup remedies.
Holding your breath.
Drinking water quickly.
Getting startled.
Eating a spoonful of something.
Newborns should not be subjected to these techniques.
Do not:
- Startle your baby intentionally.
- Give water.
- Give sugar.
- Give honey.
- Give herbal remedies.
- Give gripe water specifically to treat hiccups without discussing products and ingredients with your healthcare provider.
- Attempt to make your baby hold their breath.
Newborns generally need breast milk and/or infant formula unless their healthcare provider has given individualized medical instructions otherwise.
Hiccups usually resolve perfectly well on their own.
Can Feeding Technique Make a Difference?
If hiccups repeatedly seem connected to feeding, it may be worth looking at how your baby eats.
For bottle-fed babies, consider:
- Whether the nipple flow is appropriate.
- Whether the baby is gulping.
- Whether milk is flowing faster than the baby can comfortably manage.
- Whether the baby is taking appropriate pauses.
- Whether the bottle position supports responsive feeding.
For breastfeeding babies, consider seeking lactation support if your baby is:
- Struggling to maintain a latch.
- Frequently coughing or choking.
- Clicking repeatedly.
- Appearing overwhelmed by milk flow.
- Having difficulty feeding effectively.
The goal isn't necessarily to eliminate hiccups.
It's to ensure feeding itself is comfortable and effective.
What About Pacifiers?
Sucking may sometimes help a baby's diaphragm relax, and some parents find that offering a pacifier helps an episode pass.
A pacifier doesn't need to be used specifically as a hiccup treatment, however.
If your baby already uses one appropriately, it's reasonable to offer it.
Parents who are breastfeeding may want to discuss pacifier introduction with their pediatrician or lactation professional based on their individual feeding circumstances.
Should I Feed My Baby Again to Stop the Hiccups?
Not automatically.
If your baby is genuinely hungry, feed them.
But don't assume hiccups mean your baby needs more milk.
Look for hunger cues such as:
- Increasing alertness.
- Rooting.
- Hand-to-mouth movements.
- Opening the mouth.
- Sucking movements.
- Increasing fussiness.
If your baby just completed an effective feeding and appears relaxed, you don't need to add more milk simply because hiccups started.
When Should Hiccups Be Discussed With the Pediatrician?
Hiccups alone are rarely a reason for alarm.
However, talk with your baby's healthcare provider if hiccups occur alongside concerns such as:
- Difficulty breathing.
- Persistent coughing or choking during feeds.
- Significant feeding difficulty.
- Repeated forceful vomiting.
- Green or bloody vomit.
- Poor weight gain.
- Significant distress.
- A major change in your baby's usual behavior.
The important question is often not:
"How often does my baby hiccup?"
It's:
"What else is happening?"
Common Misconceptions About Newborn Hiccups
Myth: Frequent Hiccups Mean Something Is Wrong
Fact:
Hiccups are extremely common during the newborn period and are usually harmless.
Myth: Hiccups Mean My Baby Has Reflux
Fact:
Hiccups alone cannot diagnose reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Myth: I Need to Stop Every Episode
Fact:
Most newborn hiccups resolve without intervention.
Myth: Giving Water Will Stop the Hiccups
Fact:
Young newborns should not be given water as a hiccup remedy.
Myth: My Baby Can't Sleep While Hiccupping
Fact:
If your baby is comfortable, hiccups alone don't require keeping them awake. Continue following normal safe sleep practices.
Practical Tips for Parents
If your newborn gets frequent hiccups:
- Try not to worry about the sound alone.
- Observe whether your baby actually seems uncomfortable.
- Feed responsively rather than automatically offering more milk.
- Pause for burping when appropriate.
- Avoid allowing your baby to become extremely hungry before feeding when possible.
- Pay attention to bottle flow and feeding pace.
- Don't use adult hiccup remedies.
- Continue following safe sleep practices.
- Discuss persistent feeding concerns with your pediatrician.
- Remember that hiccups are usually something your baby will simply outgrow.
The Bigger Picture
The newborn period is filled with tiny behaviors that seem enormous when you've never seen them before.
Sneezing.
Grunting.
Startling.
Rooting.
Spitting up.
And, of course:
Hic.
Hic.
Hic.
Parents naturally want to fix anything that looks uncomfortable.
But one of the most useful things you learn during the newborn period is that not everything needs fixing.
Sometimes a hiccup is simply a hiccup.
If your baby is comfortable, feeding well, gaining appropriately, breathing normally, and otherwise behaving as expected, those persistent little hiccups may simply be another normal part of having a brand-new human in your home.
Observe.
Respond when needed.
And don't feel obligated to solve every hic.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Hiccups, Sneezing and Other Breathing Noises. HealthyChildren.org newborn health information
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infant and Toddler Nutrition. CDC infant feeding guidance
- American Academy of Pediatrics. A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep. HealthyChildren.org safe sleep guidance
About The Newborn Care Solutions Agency
The Newborn Care Solutions Agency is the only newborn care placement agency founded by an internationally accredited training provider. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, we serve families nationwide by connecting them with rigorously vetted, professionally trained Newborn Care Specialists and Postpartum Doulas.
Experienced newborn support can be especially valuable when parents are trying to determine which of their baby's seemingly unusual behaviors are actually common during the newborn period. Our professionals can help families understand feeding cues, normal newborn reflexes and behaviors, burping and feeding techniques, sleep patterns, and other everyday aspects of caring for a new baby.
Newborn Care Specialists do not diagnose medical conditions or replace your pediatrician. They provide knowledgeable day-to-day support while helping parents document and recognize changes that may warrant a conversation with their baby's healthcare provider.
For more information, visit The Newborn Care Solutions Agency at thencsa.com or call (602) 695-6775.
