New parents often get worried when they see their baby getting hiccups for long periods of time at a stretch, but usually there is nothing to worry about. Hiccups for babies are as common as any other bodily function and they do not experience pain or discomfort when getting hiccups. The younger the baby is, the higher his/her chances are of getting hiccups frequently, starting right from birth. The best advice is to keep your baby occupied during such periods and not get scared as that may upset the baby.

Although the exact reason is not officially agreed upon by everybody, hiccups in babies are probably a result of swallowed air irritating the diaphragm; therefore babies who burp after a meal are usually less prone to long stretches of hiccups. So you can pat your baby on the back or rub his/her back gently after a meal to help initiate burps.

Hiccups may often result from the position of your baby when he/she is fed, so feed your baby while holding him/her from different angles. Once a series of hiccup starts, it may pass after just a few minutes, but stop feeding until the hiccups cease. Although a few sips of water often is enough to break the chain of hiccups, you can also make your baby drink some Gripe Water as it is known to be safe from all account and also quite efficient in stopping hiccups. Whatever the exact reason may be, it is true that baby hiccups are directly related to the undeveloped organs of the baby. The infants may start burping or getting hiccups even when they are inside the mother’s womb, but expect the hiccups to go away as they mature.

As have been mentioned before, hiccups are perfectly natural actions for a young baby, but if you notice that your baby is suffering from hiccups many times a day or for hours at a stretch far too often, then it might be seen as a sign of gastro esophageal reflux disease. In that case, consult a pediatrician as early as possible.