Mothers don't need to worry if you see your little one having hiccups, because baby hiccups are generally not a dangerous condition. In fact, hiccups can be a sign that the baby is growing normally. However, there are several ways you can do to relieve the hiccups experienced by your baby.
Hiccups are a very common condition in babies, from newborns to babies who are 1 year old. Hiccups can occur when a baby eats too much or too quickly, triggering a contraction of the diaphragm and the rapid closing of the baby's vocal cords.
In addition, baby hiccups can also occur due to swallowing too much air from a feeding bottle and changes in temperature in the stomach.
Do This When Baby Hiccups
Hiccups usually only last a short time and will go away on their own. However, to deal with baby hiccups, you can take the following steps:
- Hold your little one in an upright position for about 20 minutes, then rock his body slowly or rub his back gently.
- Try to tilt the bottle at a 45-degree angle when feeding so that the air in the bottle rises to the bottom of the bottle.
- Feed your little one slowly or a little but often.
- Lay your little one in an upright position when feeding him. This will prevent or reduce the amount of air that enters the stomach.
- Lay or hold your baby in an upright position for 20 minutes after feeding so that air rises to the top of the stomach and reduces pressure on the diaphragm, so that your baby can burp.
If some of the above methods are not effective in relieving the hiccups experienced by the baby, immediately take him to the pediatrician so that proper examination and treatment can be carried out. Moreover, if the hiccups have lasted for several hours and do not go away.
Things to Avoid When Baby Hiccups
Many myths that develop in society as a way to deal with baby hiccups. However, you should avoid this, especially if there is a risk of causing injury. There are several myths that need to be avoided, including:
- Surprise the baby or scare the baby when he is hiccuping
- Pulling baby's tongue or pressing his forehead when he hiccups
- Provide respiratory support
- Putting a wet cloth on his forehead
Beware of Persistent Hiccups
You need to pay attention, the hiccups experienced by babies normally only last about 10 minutes. However, if the hiccups are persistent, this could be a sign that the baby has gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux, which is a condition when stomach acid rises up into the esophagus.
In addition to hiccups, babies with acid reflux may also experience several other symptoms, such as:
- Fussy and cry a lot
- Throw up
- Moves a lot or often arches his back excessively after and during meals
- Saliva or drooling more often than usual
- The spit is greenish or yellowish
- Difficulty breathing or coughing
If you find these signs, immediately take your little one to the pediatrician for further treatment. This is also done to prevent the risk of more serious conditions occurring in the baby.
The condition of baby hiccups can generally subside on their own with or without some of the ways to get rid of the hiccups that have been mentioned previously. However, if the hiccups experienced by your little one are too frequent or protracted, you should consult a pediatrician.