Scaring your child or having your child hold his or her breath will not stop hiccups, which are spasms of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm. The intercostal muscles lie between the ribs. When these muscles function normally, they help your child breathe, speak, sing, and cough. But for reason unknown, sometimes the nerves controlling these muscles don't work right, usually in a younger child.
Hiccups can be quite common in infants and are noted by mothers before their babies are born.
Parents of newborns often are particularly concerned since the lack of muscle tone at this early age makes hiccups appear to control the baby's whole body. However, the hiccups do not hurt children and usually will stop on their own after a brief period. Has hiccups in association with another illness such as a prolonged cough, muscle weakness on one side of the body, or severe vomiting. Give your child something to drink to hasten the resolution of the hiccups. Offer a teaspoon of dry granulated sugar to your child if he or she is old enough to handle this amount of sugar without choking.