AS an adult, a random bout of hiccups can be infuriating and in some cases a little humiliating.
And you’re not alone if you’ve tried every method known to man to help alleviate them quickly.
There’s often no obvious reason why people get hiccups, but there are some common triggers including stress, strong emotions, like excitement, or eating and drinking.
But what about when our baby suffers from the same dreaded fate? Should we do our best to stop them or just let them be?
According to the experts, hiccups are completely normal and they do no harm to little bodies (or big ones).
Hiccups require no treatment whatsoever, baby and parenting expert Rachel Fitzd, a regular speaker at The Baby Show tells Fabulous.
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“On the postnatal ward we regularly took calls at 2am from frantic mums whose babies had hiccups and they didn’t know what to do,” she says.
Proving how normal they really are, she adds: “Babies hiccup in the womb and you can see this as early as the 20 week scan.”
Parent coach and early years expert Sophie Pickles agrees but says they can be “a little worrying” at first – particularly for new mums who are learning on the go.
But it’s worth remembering they will go away on their own, she says. Sometimes you just need to give it some time.
There is one thing mums should look out for though and that’s a regular pattern of hiccups straight after feeding.
Sophie says: “If you notice that your baby seems to get hiccups often after feeding, it may be that gas is the culprit.
“If you think this is the case, try some of these easy techniques to relieve your baby’s discomfort.”
The first option is to hold your baby up against your chest, so their head is resting on your shoulder. Then walk up and down the stairs a few times.
Sophie says: “The motion can often dislodge any trapped gas bubbles and your baby will enjoy the movement. “
Sit your baby on your knee, fully supporting their torso and head. Slowly move them in small circles, first clockwise and then anticlockwise.
Lay your baby across your lap with their stomach against your legs and their head fully supported.
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Pat and rub their back in a gentle but firm motion to help ease trapped wind.
Whatever way you choose, Rachel urges parents not to try on babies what adults often try, including sucking on ice, being scared or holding their breath.
According to the NHS, there are a few things adults can try to help get rid of hiccups:
