The Airplane Hold: A Game-Changer for Baby Development (and Fussy Tummies!)

As an osteopathic manual practitioner with advanced training in pediatric care, I often hear this question from new parents:

“How should I hold my baby to support their growth and development?”

One of my favorite answers is the airplane hold—a simple yet powerful way to hold your baby that supports spinal development, activates key muscle groups, and helps with things like gas and digestion.

Why the Airplane Hold Works So Well

Babies are meant to be held. While traditional tummy time on a flat surface is often recommended, it can feel awkward or frustrating for some babies. The airplane hold offers many of the same developmental benefits—but with the warmth of your arms and the support of human contact.

This hold:

• Encourages activation of the cervical extensors—those little muscles at the back of your baby’s neck that help them lift their head and build control

• Stimulates the thoracolumbar fascia and paraspinal muscles, supporting the gentle extension of the spine

• Engages the deep core stabilizers, like the multifidus and transverse abdominis, as they instinctively work to balance and orient themselves in space

It’s a beautifully functional way to promote motor development, all while keeping your baby safe and close.

How to Position Your Baby in the Airplane Hold

If your baby is lying on their back, here’s a step-by-step way to guide them into the hold:

1. Place one hand gently on their chest for stability

2. Use your other hand to roll them onto your forearm, with their belly facing down

3. Let their head rest in the crook of your elbow, keeping their neck in a neutral, supported position

This avoids the risk of head hyperextension (which can happen if the head drops back) and supports healthy alignment of the cervical and lumbar spine.

🌀 Switch arms regularly to support symmetrical muscle development and avoid creating a side preference. Bonus: your other hand is free—perfect for multitasking or simply giving a sibling a high-five.

The Airplane Hold for Gassy Tummies

This position isn’t just good for development—it can be incredibly soothing for babies with gas or tummy troubles.

Using both arms, you can:

• Cradle your baby’s head in one elbow

• Place your other hand gently on their tummy to apply light, rhythmic pressure or small circular massage

This gentle contact helps stimulate the digestive tract and can ease discomfort by encouraging gas to move.

From an osteopathic lens, this position also supports the respiratory diaphragm—a key muscle involved not just in breathing, but in digestion as well. When babies are held tummy-down, their diaphragm is gently lengthened and massaged by gravity and your touch. This can help relax the diaphragm and improve its mobility, which in turn helps regulate intra-abdominal pressure and encourages smoother movement through the digestive system.

A relaxed diaphragm = better digestion and calmer babies.

A More Natural Alternative to Floor Tummy Time

Tummy time doesn’t have to be flat-out on the floor. In fact, dynamic tummy time—like holding your baby in the airplane position—can offer the same postural benefits in a more connected, responsive way.

This hold supports:

• The natural curvature of the spine as it develops from C-shape at birth toward cervical and lumbar lordosis

• The gradual integration of reflexes, like the Landau reflex, which helps babies build head and trunk control over time

  
  

If you're curious about this approach, you might enjoy checking out @nicholasgrimaldi.osteo on Instagram, who shares helpful insights into baby movement through his MyOneOsteo platform.

Want Help Putting This into Practice?

If you’d like some hands-on support—whether it’s to learn this hold with confidence, support your baby’s digestion, or better understand their movement patterns—I’d love to help.

👉 Book a baby consultation at the clinic and let’s explore what works best for your little one.

-Vero Osteo