Hiccups in a newborn: what parents should know

A hiccup happens when the diaphragm, the breathing muscle beneath the lungs, contracts suddenly and the voice box briefly closes. A newborn's developing feeding and breathing patterns can make these episodes noticeable, especially around feeds. Hiccups alone do not show that a baby has a serious illness. Reflux can sometimes occur alongside hiccups, particularly when there is frequent spit-up, arching, coughing, or discomfort during feeds. Read more about [Acid Reflux](/conditions/acid-reflux/).

Pause the feed if your baby seems unsettled, hold the baby upright with the head and neck supported, and allow a calm burp. Resume feeding only when the baby is comfortable. Smaller, unhurried feeds and keeping the nipple filled with milk may reduce swallowed air, but do not force a feed. Never frighten, shake, startle, or give water, sugar, herbal drinks, or medicine to stop hiccups unless a clinician specifically advises it.

Get urgent help if hiccups occur with struggling to breathe, blue or grey lips, marked drowsiness, choking, or inability to feed. Contact a paediatric clinician if episodes repeatedly interrupt feeds, vomiting is forceful or green, your baby has fewer wet nappies, or the baby appears to be in pain. Persistent symptoms deserve assessment for feeding problems or conditions such as [Gastritis](/conditions/gastritis/), rather than home treatment alone.

Ask whether your baby's feeding position, latch, spit-up, weight pattern, or breathing sounds suggest a problem. Note when hiccups start, how long they last, whether they follow feeds, and what your baby does during an episode. Ask before using any [Acid Reflux Medication](/treatments/medical-management/acid-reflux-medication/) because treatment is not chosen from hiccups alone.