Question
My sister’s newborn baby, who is 20 days old, has been experiencing prolonged hiccups after feeding. To relieve her, I’ve given her water and held her upright, gently patting her back, but it doesn’t seem to work. The baby still cries, and it seems to last about 15 minutes, which is much longer than normal. What should I do when a newborn cries excessively after feeding?
Answer
The best way to prevent a newborn from crying is to burp the baby immediately after feeding. After feeding the baby, if the parent doesn’t help burp the baby, in principle, simply holding the baby upright for 20 to 30 minutes will allow the air to rise slowly and naturally be expelled, and the baby will hiccup on its own. Burping not only helps the baby hiccup but also soothes the baby, as babies enjoy being gently patted on the back.