Hiccups

Hiccups in babies are very normal. Sometimes babies will use them as sort of “super burps” to get air bubbles out. Oftentimes if a baby is ready to spit up and a hiccup comes along, all of that feed seems to come out. These contractions of the diaphragm can also happen just randomly for babies due to an immature nervous system. But as long as the hiccups don’t last for days at a time, we have low concern for underlying neurologic abnormalities. As little Johnny or Janie grows up and has an episode of hiccups then whichever trick you want to try to get rid of hiccups is usually fine with me: a quick scare, a short holding of one’s breath, drinking water from the opposite side of a cup, or, my personal favorite, really thinking about a pineapple. Like really think. Like how it feels, looks, tastes, etc. I know it’s weird, but it works…sometimes.