Natural Remedies for Toddler Hiccups

Hiccups are very common for people of all age groups. They generally come and go and are there only for a short duration. There is nothing more cute than observing a baby hiccuping. But it may be dangerous if it occurs for a longer duration of time and may indicate an underlying medical condition and requires medical attention. A toddler may experience hiccuping if he or she inhales a lot of air or eats too fast. Certain other factors which can lead to hiccuping include intake of carbonated beverages and spicy foods, getting excited too quickly and exposed to quick temperature changes. Many believe that getting hiccups means someone is thinking about them. But the actual reason why people get hiccups is because of sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. Hiccuping is not anything to worry about if it does not contain for longer durations and is completely normal for babies. Their digestive systems are developing and will experience spasms in the diaphragm when air gets accumulated in their stomachs. The various causes which could lead to hiccuping in babies include– 

• Breathing Too Much Air- Babies usually swallow air while feeding from the bottle. This is the major cause of hiccuping in babies.
• Irritants in the atmosphere- Irritants in the atmosphere can cause coughing and contractions in the diaphragm.
• Allergic Reactions/Asthma- Allergies or lung inflammation can cause the diaphragm to contract suddenly, causing hiccups. Milk protein allergy is a common reason for hiccups in babies.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease- Babies who experience gastroesophageal reflux often get hiccups, as the reverse flow of food particles irritates the oesophageal nerve endings and stimulates stomach spasms.
• Excessive Feeding- Feeding the baby too much is also a thing which should be avoided as it leads to hiccups and bloating.

How to prevent hiccups in babies? 

Because hiccups have several triggers it is possible to stop them all together. Some things should be taken care of to prevent hiccups in babies a few of which are described below-

• Feeding Position- Adjusting the baby's position and holding him upright while feeding can help reduce spasms in the diaphragm.
• Breastfeeding- As opposed to bottle feeding, breastfeeding can help prevent your baby from swallowing too much air which would be better.
• Back Massage- Massaging the back of the baby can prevent hiccups as well as provide relief from it.
• Burping Your Baby- Burping your baby in between feedings could be useful in getting rid of the unwanted air accumulated in the stomach and hence prevent hiccups.
• Feeding a Relaxed Baby- Always try to feed the baby when he or she is relaxed as it helps in proper digestion and does not let air accumulate in the stomach hence preventing hiccups.
• Avoid Overfeeding- Avoid overfeeding your baby at one go. Instead, feed him smaller meals twice or thrice. 

Natural Remedies for Toddler Hiccups 

Usually, hiccups last for 10-15 minutes in babies and go away on their own. However, if they last longer, you can try a few tips to make them stop.

In this article we have discussed a few natural remedies which could help in getting rid of hiccups of your toddler. These include-

• Holding breath- Ask your toddler to hold the breath for a few seconds (normally for 15 to 20 seconds) and then leave it slowly and if it doesn't work, repeat the process.
•  Water- Give the baby more water to drink to soothe the stomach and get rid of the spasms.
• Distract Your Baby- Most times, distracting the baby can help stop the hiccups. Try to distract him by giving him his favourite toy or playing his favourite cartoon.
• Swallow sugar- Ask your baby to swallow a teaspoon of sugar. You may find it weird but it might help in getting rid of the hiccups.
• You can give your toddler a slice of lemon with a little bit of salt sprinkled on it but never forget to wash his or her mouth with water as the citric acid can destroy the teeth.
• Bring the knees of the toddler upto his chest and ask them to hold it for a few seconds.
• Massaging the carotid artery could also help to get rid of the Hiccups.
• You can give your baby some honey as it could also help in getting rid of the Hiccups.
• Lay the baby on the bed and compress his or her chest putting little pressure on the diaphragm which could be useful.

Visit the doctor immediately if the hiccups don't stop even after an hour and don't rely on any other remedy.