Hiccup, an involuntary contraction of muscles below the lungs resulting in a sudden short closure of vocal chords happens on a baby growing inside the mother's womb. Though infant hiccups may be more intense than those of the adults, there is no need for parents to worry.
Certain reliefs for hiccups have been named in the past some of which were true while some were proven to be ineffective. Holding breath is an example of an old ineffective hiccup relief even in adults and should never be tried on infants as they may endanger the little ones, according to Bundoo.
Overeating, sudden change or intense emotion and air swallowed during eating or nursing for infants are some possible causes of hiccups. Feeding babies when they are irritated can also be factors contributing to infant hiccups.
When babies tend to hiccup more often it will help feeding them when they are relaxed. Making them burp after every five or ten minutes of feeding will help release trapped air that they have swallowed unnecessarily.
However, there are rare cases when hiccups could be a sign of an internal disorder of infants. Like for instance for premature babies under machine-aided breathing, hiccups could be a sign of irregular respiratory frequency.
Hiccups are expected to last for a few minutes. In cases where hiccups last for hours, immediate medical attention may be necessary as it may a sign of problems in the throat such as cyst or tumor. Hiccups can also be symptoms of GERD, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to Healthline.
Lynnette Mazur, professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston stated that as long as hiccups do not interfere with baby's activities, there is no need to worry. She also advised parents to just allow the hiccup to go away and not try to do any remedies which in the end may not really relieve infant hiccups but hurt the baby, according to Baby Center.
