My Toddler Gets Hiccups When He Laughs

Hiccups occur because of diaphragm muscle irritation, which results in a sudden gush of air entering the lungs. In some individuals, singultus may be caused by anxiety over fear or excitement. It is an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm that is succeeded by a closure of the vocal cords. Hiccups are more common in toddlers but tend to decrease as a child grows older. 

Hiccups enable infants to breathe while suckling milk. When air escapes the stomach, it allows more milk to be ingested.  

Why Does Your Toddler Get Hiccups When He Laughs?

Hiccups are more prevalent among toddlers. Sometimes toddlers tend to eat too fast, which may cause a child to get a hiccough. 

Every so often, your child will be tickled and made to laugh. In most cases, singultus in toddlers occurs as a manifestation of excitement.

How Long Do Toddlers Hiccup?

A simple spasm of the diaphragm can last from between a few minutes to hours. However, some children may experience hiccups for more than 48 hours.  Rarely will a hiccough last for several weeks, but it may happen.

How to Help Your Toddler Stop the Hiccups

Ordinarily, there is nothing to worry about your toddler’s hiccoughs. These spasms of your child’s diaphragm usually go away without much help. However, you may want to try and help your little one stop hiccupping quickly. 

Some home remedies tested and tried over time include; drinking herbal tea, light pressure, drinking cold water, and breathing techniques.

Chamomile Tea

In toddlers, hiccups occur every so often because the control mechanism for reflexes is not fully developed. This may cause the nerve impulses to be confused by the varying signals.

However, you can help ease the situation in your child with a natural remedy like chamomile. This herb is safe for relieving the muscle spasm that causes your toddler to hiccup. You can give your child warm herbal chamomile tea using a dropper. Alternatively, your child can sip a small amount of this herbal tea continuously until the hiccough stops. 

Pressure on the Upper Stomach

Hiccups can stop if you apply light pressure on your toddler’s upper stomach in short upward movements. However, this technique may be difficult because you have to apply the pressure in sync with the hiccup. The unpredictability of when the hiccup occurs may make this method a little bit tricky. Most importantly, remember to keep the pressure light when dealing with your toddler.

Drinking Cold Water

Ingesting cold water to remedy hiccups has been used for generations. It helps to have your toddler take a glass of water.  However, you need to ensure that the water given to children is not too cold.  This can soothe your child’s irritated diaphragm and normalize the movement pattern.

Breathing Technique

There are various ways to use breathing techniques to ease hiccups. Even so, your toddler is likely to find breathing into a paper bag easier.  You can help by holding the paper bag as your child breathes in and holds their breath for a while.

What to Avoid When Your Toddler Gets Hiccups

Avoid giving your toddler cayenne water. Though spicy food can ease hiccups, in toddlers, however, it may make them worse. The majority of children do not like hot peppers. Cayenne may induce hiccups or make your toddler upset.

Drinking water is good, but having your child take it in an upside-down position is bizarre. Avoid having your toddler sip water while the head is in a downward position. This may cause your child to choke.

Don’t Scare Your Child. This popular myth is used in many cultures to get rid of hiccups. Your child may eventually be traumatized and upset by this technique. However, if you still want to go this way, you may try to surprise your child in a less scarily manner.

When to Worry About Your Toddler’s Hiccups

Though hiccups are normal and will go away after the excitement is over, sometimes they may persist. This means that your toddler’s hiccoughs have lasted more than 48 hours. Rarely some children can experience intractable hiccups, which last for over a month.

Prolonged hiccups can be painful and make it difficult for your toddler to eat and drink. You must consult a doctor to help you resolve your child’s situation.

Conclusion

Every so often, toddlers experience hiccups.  There is usually no need to worry unless the hiccups last more than 48 hours. Even so, home remedies that have been passed on from one generation to another can help ease your toddler’s hiccups.

However, hiccups that occur continuously for more than a month need immediate medical attention. This is because your toddler may experience pain and difficulty in eating and drinking.