If you want to know how to get rid of hiccups fast and naturally, this post has tons of tips and ideas to help newborns, kids, and adults alike!
Hiccups occur when your diaphragm (the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen) spasms involuntarily. Each spasm causes your vocal cords to close quickly, creating a distinctive ‘hiccup’ sound, and while it’s usually only a minor annoyance that lasts a short amount of time, it can be uncomfortable, especially for newborns and younger kids.
Thankfully, there are tons of natural remedies that can stop a bout of hiccups in its tracks, and we’re sharing 9 of our favorites below!
What Causes Hiccups?
Common causes of hiccups include:
- Eating and/or drinking too much
- Eating and/or drinking too fast
- Drinking carbonated beverages
- Eating spicy foods
- Drinking alcohol
- Swallowing air while sucking on candies or chewing gum
- Feeling stressed, nervous, or excited
- Sudden changes in temperature
Hiccups are usually a short-term, minor inconvenience, but certain medications and conditions can cause persistent hiccups. Be sure to consult with your doctor if you have repeated episodes of hiccups and/or your hiccups last longer than 48 hours.
6 Tips to Prevent and Get Rid of Hiccups in Newborns
While hiccups are a short-lived annoyance for adults, they can be extremely distressing for newborns, interfering with feeding and sleep. If your bundle of joy is prone to getting the hiccups, here are 6 tips and remedies to try!
- Make sure your baby is latching properly
- Don’t allow your baby to become over hungry (feed smaller amounts more often)
- Take frequent breaks when feeding to burp your baby
- Keep your baby upright for 30+ minutes after each feeding
- Give your baby a pacifier (the sucking motion relaxes the diaphragm)
- Try gripe water (a mix of herbs and water used to treat colic)
How to Get Rid of Hiccups Fast
1. Hold your breath
An easy remedy for those who want to know how to get rid of hiccups fast is to take a deep breath, hold it for 10-20 seconds, release, and repeat until your hiccups dissapear. Holding your breath causes a build up of carbon monoxide in your lungs, which helps to relax the diaphragm and (hopefully) stop hiccups.
2. Try deep breathing
If holding your breath isn’t an option, deep breathing can also help ease a case of the hiccups as it helps to reset your respiratory system. Take a slow breath in through the nose, hold the breath for a few seconds, exhale slowly through the mouth, and repeat until your hiccups subside.
3. Drink a glass of ice water
Another easy tip to try if you want to know how to get rid of hiccups fast is to take several sips of cold water. The cold temperature of the water will stimulate your vagus nerve, and the act of gulping water helps to override the spasms in your diaphragm. Placing a paper towel or napkin over your glass can make this natural remedy for hiccups even more effective as it requires you to pull harder with your diaphragm to suck the water into your mouth.
4. Breathe into a brown paper bag
Breathing into a brown paper bag increases the level of carbon dioxide in your blood, allowing your diaphragm to stop spasming and contract more deeply, which in turn enables it to bring in more oxygen. Be careful to stop if you feel light-headed.
5. Dissolve a sugar cube on your tongue
If you want to know how to get rid of hiccups, this remedy is the one that works best in my opinion, and it’s one your children will love! Simply place a sugar cube on your tongue and allow it to dissolve slowly. It’s my go-to remedy!
6. Eat a spoonful of peanut butter or honey
A delicious way to reset your breathing pattern and eliminate the hiccups is to eat something sticky like peanut butter or honey off of a spoon. The act of removing the substance from the spoon, your tongue, and your teeth, as well as chewing and swallowing makes this a delicious and effective tip for anyone who wants to know how to get rid of hiccups fast! Just be sure not to give honey to kids under the age of 12 months due to the risk of botulism.
7. Suck on a lemon
If you enjoy sour foods, sucking on a lemon is a popular remedy to try if you want to know how to get rid of hiccups fast. It’s said to be one of the most effective natural hiccup remedies if you can handle it!
8. Hug your knees
Another way to stop your diaphragm from spasming is to pull your knees into your chest and hug them for 2+ minutes. This move compresses your chest and will (hopefully) relax your diaphragm and stop your hiccups.
9. Pull on your tongue
My final tip for those who want to know how to get rid of hiccups fast is to gently pull on the tip of your tongue to stimulate the nerves and muscles in your throat. The reviews are mixed on the effectiveness of this remedy, but it’s worth a try!
If you want to know how to get rid of hiccups fast and naturally, I hope one of more of these ideas brings you relief! I swear by the sugar cube remedy, but several others have helped me and my family as well.