You know the feeling you get when your baby hiccups, you get worried and begin to wonder if you are doing something wrong, “do I need to eat differently or change the formula, didn’t I burp him, should I give my baby water?” Hiccups are normal and more common in newborn babies and children under the age of one. It turns out babies start hiccupping even when they are still in the womb, scientists say that it happens mostly for good reasons and is an indication that your baby is in top shape!  Hiccups are caused by contractions of your baby’s tiny and developing diaphragm (a diaphragm is a muscle that separates the thoracic region from the abdomen), it is basically air trapped in your baby’s throat.  Here is why your baby hiccups so much:

1. Your baby overfed, ate too quickly or swallowed a lot of air while feeding.

2. Baby hiccups can be the result of sudden changes in stomach temperature. For example, you give your baby some cold milk and then later feed him some hot pap; this combination can cause baby hiccups.

Although, scientists have not discovered any proven way to stop hiccups, putting wool with saliva on your baby’s hair or startling your innocent child will not help. Most hiccups would go after a few minutes but if not consider giving your baby a few drops of gripe water, burping your baby and giving your baby a pacifier. All these will help stop the hiccups and make your bundle of joy hiccup-free

Babies can have hiccups multiple times a day, lasting for 10 minutes or longer. As a rule, if your baby acts happy and doesn’t seem uncomfortable, then it is not a cause for concern. If the hiccups persist and seem to be causing your baby any distress, please visit your doctor.