Hiccups are rhythmically repeated involuntary contractions of the diaphragm and muscles in the chest causing you to breathe in, triggered by a characteristic noise. The hiccups are not serious and will disappear after a few minutes. It usually occurs after the stomach overflows quickly and excessively.
Hiccups in infants it happens very often. Its main cause is the immaturity of the nervous system. Sometimes it appears several or even several times a day. It is caused by involuntary contractions of the muscles of the diaphragm and larynx. Such disturbances in a toddler are normal. Hiccups also happen in babies while still in the womb. Over time, it appears less and less, until it finally subsides on its own.
Newborn babies usually develop hiccups when they have not recovered after eating or are cold. It can also be a consequence of the baby’s rapid filling or gulping of air during feeding. Therefore, you should always pay attention to whether the baby has grabbed the bottle correctly or has grasped the entire nipple while breastfeeding. However, right after eating, you should take care of the baby’s rebound. Hiccups in infants and children also perform when they laugh out loud. Sometimes it can also occur for no specific reason.
Remedies for hiccups in babies there are several. Some of them are:
- when we feed a baby, we must make sure that it lies in the right position and is properly attached to the breast. When feeding with a bottle, make sure that the teat is always full of milk and that there are no air bubbles that could be swallowed by the baby;
- Always lift your baby to an upright position after feeding to make him burst. When and after this hiccups develop and become bothersome, give your baby a few sips of warm water;
- when the baby is full and the tummy is full, we have to wait for the food to move further and free the stomach and the hiccups will end. Putting the baby in an upright position will then help;
- when the child is cold and has a hiccup, warm him, give him a hug, give the breast or warm water to drink.
Hiccups in babies – diseases
Sometimes hiccups that occur too often may result in the development of an illness or ailments. We may be concerned about the fact that it lasts too long, which prevents us from feeding regularly or interferes with sleep. In that case, the best solution is to consult your doctor, as this may be the result of a serious illness. For example, metabolic disorders, diseases of the central nervous system or diseases of the abdominal cavity. Irritation of the eardrum, e.g. by a foreign body, trauma to the abdominal cavity or chest, diseases of the throat, larynx, pneumonia, and even metabolic disorders such as diabetes can also have a bad effect.