Newborn Hiccups: Why They Happen and How to Help (A Pediatrician's Guide)

Newborn hiccups are common, normal, and usually harmless. They tend to bother parents more than the baby. Doctors don't know exactly why babies hiccup so often, and feeding often seems to set it off. Most spells pass on their own within a few minutes, so you usually don't need to do anything. This guide explains why hiccups happen, simple ways to help, what to avoid, and when to call your pediatrician.

Are newborn hiccups normal?

Yes. Newborn hiccups are common and normal, and they usually bother parents more than they bother the baby.

Hiccups are one of the first things many babies do. Babies often hiccup before they are even born, so you may remember them from pregnancy. Many healthy babies hiccup every day, and this is nothing to worry about. They can happen alongside other things, so it helps to know the "when to call" signs further down.

Most babies hiccup from time to time. Usually this bothers parents more than the infant.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

The AAP sums it up simply, and MedlinePlus adds that hiccups are "common and normal in newborns and infants."

Why do newborns get hiccups?

No one knows for sure. The hiccup reflex is very active early in life, and feeding often seems to trigger it.

A hiccup is a sudden spasm of the diaphragm, the muscle under the lungs that helps your baby breathe. Right after the spasm, the vocal cords close quickly, making the "hic" sound. As MedlinePlus notes, "there is usually no specific cause for hiccups." So frequent hiccups usually don't mean anything is wrong.

Researchers are still studying why the reflex is so busy in babies. One small study suggests hiccups may help a baby's developing brain learn about the breathing muscles. That is one idea, not a proven fact.

Newborn hiccups after feeding

Hiccups often show up during or right after a feed. That is normal and usually not a sign of a problem.

The AAP doesn't name a cause for hiccups. People commonly suggest that a full tummy or swallowing a little air during a feed can set them off. That is a reasonable guess, not proven by research. Either way, hiccups during or after a feed are common in healthy babies. If gas or burping is a frequent worry, our newborn gas relief guide can help.

How to get rid of newborn hiccups

Usually you don't need to do anything. Most hiccups pass on their own within a few minutes, and there is no sure way to stop them.

As MedlinePlus puts it: "There is no sure way to stop hiccups." No home remedy has been proven to work, so be careful with any product or trick that promises to. Since hiccups usually bother parents more than babies, waiting them out is fine.

If hiccups start while you are feeding your baby, the AAP suggests a few gentle comfort measures:

• Change your baby's position.
• Try to get them to burp.
• Help them relax.

Or simply wait. MedlinePlus notes hiccups most often go away after a few minutes.

The AAP also gives this simple guide for feeding: "Wait until the hiccups are gone to resume feeding. If they don't disappear in 5 to 10 minutes, try to resume feeding for a few minutes. Doing this usually stops them."

What NOT to do (no adult "cures")

The tricks adults use for hiccups are not made for newborns, and a few can be dangerous. Here is what to skip.

A few more things to skip:

• Adult tricks like drinking water, eating sugar, breathing into a paper bag, or holding your breath aren't made for newborns.
• Don't startle or scare your baby, pull on their tongue, press on their eyes or soft spot, or hold their nose. None of these are safe or helpful.
• Gripe water: there's no evidence gripe water helps hiccups. Ask your pediatrician before giving your baby any product.

Here is a quick side-by-side of what may comfort your baby and what to avoid.

How to prevent newborn hiccups

You can't always prevent hiccups, but calm, unhurried feeds may make them less likely.

The one step the AAP ties directly to fewer hiccups is simple: feed your baby "when they are calm and before they are extremely hungry." A few more habits the AAP recommends to cut down on swallowed air and spit-up are commonly suggested for hiccups too:

• Feed your baby when they are calm, before they get very hungry. This is the step the AAP links to fewer hiccups.
• Burp during feeds. If bottle-feeding, burp after every 2 to 3 ounces (60 to 90 mL). If nursing, burp when you switch breasts. Some breastfed babies don't swallow much air and may not need to burp.
• Try different burping holds: over your shoulder, sitting up on your lap, or lying face-down across your lap.
• Keep your baby upright for 10 to 15 minutes after a feed so they don't spit up.
• Pausing to burp also slows the feed, so your baby gulps less air.
• If your baby is fussing and gulping air, it can help to pause the feed.

How long do newborn hiccups last?

Most hiccup spells last only a few minutes. Hiccups also tend to happen less often as your baby grows.

According to MedlinePlus, hiccups "most often disappear after a few minutes." There is no set age when they stop, so don't worry if your baby still hiccups now and then.

Your baby can even hiccup while asleep, and that's okay. Keep putting your baby down to sleep on their back, on a flat surface, just as you always would.

Are hiccups a sign of reflux?

Usually not. Hiccups on their own are common in healthy babies and aren't a sign of reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is when milk comes back up. The AAP says this kind of spit-up "is considered normal" in healthy infants, sometimes called "happy spitters." Hiccups can happen alongside spit-up, but on their own they aren't a sign of reflux disease (GERD). Neither the AAP's nor the NIH's list of reflux warning signs includes hiccups.

If your main worry is reflux or frequent spit-up, our guide to infant acid reflux walks through what's normal and when to check in.

When to call your pediatrician

Hiccups by themselves are rarely a concern. Call 911 for the emergency signs below. Call your pediatrician if hiccups come with other warning signs, or seem to last much longer than usual.

Call 911 right away if your baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds, turns pale, bluish, or gray, or suddenly goes limp or stiff.

Call your pediatrician if hiccups come with any of these signs:

• Trouble feeding, or refusing to feed
• Vomiting, especially if it is forceful, green, or has blood in it
• Coughing, wheezing, or arching during feeds
• Unusual sleepiness, or being hard to wake
• Poor weight gain, or fewer wet diapers than usual

These signs could point to reflux disease or another illness, not hiccups themselves. You know your baby best, so if something feels off, it's always okay to reach out.

How Blueberry Pediatrics can help

Hiccups are a classic "is this normal?" moment, and that's exactly when it helps to ask someone you trust.

With Blueberry Pediatrics, you get 24/7 access to board-certified pediatricians from home. If you're not sure whether your baby's hiccups are normal or worth a closer look, our team can help you decide what to do next. For more on the early weeks, see our guide to newborn care. In our telehealth visits, parents most often ask about hiccups during or right after feeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are newborn hiccups normal?

Yes. Hiccups are common and normal in newborns, and they usually bother parents more than the baby.

Why do newborns get hiccups?

No one knows for sure. The hiccup reflex is very active early in life, and feeding often seems to set it off. There is usually no specific cause.

How do I get rid of my newborn's hiccups?

Usually you don't need to. Most hiccups pass on their own within minutes. If they start during a feed, you can change your baby's position, help them burp, or help them relax.

How can I prevent newborn hiccups?

You can't always prevent them, but feeding your baby when they are calm, before they get very hungry, may make hiccups less likely. Burping during feeds and keeping your baby upright afterward are commonly suggested too. The AAP recommends them to cut down on swallowed air and spit-up.

How long do newborn hiccups last, and do they stop as babies grow?

Most spells last only a few minutes. Hiccups tend to happen less as your baby grows, though there is no set age when they stop.

Are hiccups a sign of acid reflux?

Usually not. Hiccups can happen alongside spit-up, but on their own they are common in healthy babies and aren't a sign of reflux disease (GERD).

When should I worry about my baby's hiccups?

Call 911 if your baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds or turns pale, bluish, or gray. Call your pediatrician if hiccups come with trouble feeding, vomiting, coughing, wheezing, arching, unusual sleepiness, or poor weight gain, or if they seem to go on much longer than usual.

Sources

This guide relies only on primary medical sources, reviewed and current as of 2026.

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), HealthyChildren.org: Baby Burping, Hiccups & Spit-Up (Last Updated 12/31/2024).
• AAP, HealthyChildren.org: GER & GERD (Reflux) (Last Updated 12/29/2024).
• AAP, HealthyChildren.org: How Your Newborn Behaves (Last Updated 12/31/2021).
• AAP, HealthyChildren.org: How to Safely Prepare Baby Formula With Water (Last Updated 2/25/2026).
• AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Botulism (Last Updated 12/9/2025).
• NIH, U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus: Hiccups (Review Date 1/1/2025).
• NIH, NIDDK: Symptoms & Causes of GER & GERD in Infants (supporting source; last reviewed November 2020).
• Whitehead K, et al. Clin Neurophysiol. 2019;130(12):2216-2221 (PMID 31677560).
• Orenstein SR, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1996;35(12):607-614 (PMID 8970752).
• van Lennep M, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2024;183(1):445-452 (PMID 37926716).

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always talk with your pediatrician about your child's health and before giving your baby any product or medicine.