How to help child with hiccups? Pediatrician named 4 most common mistakes
What not to do with hiccups in children (photo: Freepik)
Hiccups in babies are a common phenomenon that often occurs due to diaphragmatic spasms. In this condition, parents should avoid common mistakes that can only harm the child, states pediatrician Daria Vlasenko.
How to get rid of hiccups in a baby
When the diaphragm contracts, the baby inhales, and the vocal cords suddenly close, which causes the hiccup sound. This can happen when a baby eats too fast or swallows air while feeding.
To get rid of hiccups, burping is the best way to help your child.
The following will help prevent hiccups:
- proper feeding - when feeding from a bottle, make sure that the nipple does not contain air, and when breastfeeding - the baby should properly grasp the breast
- position after feeding - keep the baby upright until he/she burps
What not to do
It is absolutely not allowed:
- scare the child
- do not put a wet napkin on the forehead. This will not stop the hiccups, but may only cause discomfort
- Do not use breath-holding techniques. This is dangerous for the baby and can cause additional stress
- Do not try to pull the baby's tongue or press on the forehead or front fontanel. This can cause injury.
The best thing to do is just wait and let the hiccups go away on their own. This is a completely natural phenomenon that usually does not require intervention.
You should consult a doctor if hiccups are accompanied by severe reflux, anxiety, or poor weight gain.
Earlier, the pediatrician told what a child should be able to do at 1 month.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
