Ever wonder why a baby, child or even you get hiccups? It is a spasm of your diaphragm followed by the snapping sound of your epiglottis snapping closed. I’m sure that makes things clear as mud, but at least it is an answer. Hiccups in babies can be caused by swallowing too hard, too fast, crying or even having some reflux. In older people, it can be caused by those things as well as being scared or swallowing air. What makes them go away? You would be surprised to know that many of those Old Wives’ Tale remedies actually have some scientific merit.