The airplane hold is a way to hold your baby in your arms. You might initially think of a flight lesson. That’s not entirely wrong. Because in the airplane hold, you let your baby “fly” on your forearm lying on their tummy. 

The hold is often recommended by midwives and doctors if your baby suffers from gas or three-month colic. When your baby’s tummy is on your forearm, trapped air in the body can escape more easily, and the hold can also have a soothing effect if your baby is simply crying.

The airplane hold is very easy to use. Place your baby face down on one of your forearms, with their head pointing toward your elbow. Their legs will then dangle on either side of your arm. 

Then you can reach your hand through their legs and hold their tummy, bottom, and thighs. Your arm and your baby will be held close to your body. 

 If you are unsure, use your other hand to hold your baby securely. You will both need some practice with the airplane hold, especially at first.

One more tip for newborns, that is, for babies up to 29 days old: Hold your baby's bent feet with one hand. Otherwise, their legs dangling freely can put too much strain on their spine.

• Gases can escape more easily
• Has a calming effect (even during periods of colic)
• Trains tummy time
• Relaxing for dads

Moments of relaxation for dads? Yes, because babies often root for their mother's breast when they are picked up. This, of course, makes little sense when you as a dad are holding your baby. To prevent your baby from even thinking about looking for a milk source in the first place, the football hold is well suited. By the way, we also have a Dad's Guide in our magazine.

Babies sleep on their backs at night. This is important because if they sleep on their tummies at night, there is an increased risk of their breathing stopping, which can lead to sudden infant death. So it is wonderful that your baby spends a lot of time on their back.

However, you can practice tummy time with your baby during the day. Through tummy time, your baby learns other important developmental milestones: lifting their head, rolling into a sitting position, crawling, and eventually walking. Tummy time is practically the first mini-step on the way to taking their first wobbly steps on two legs.  

For crying babies, the term three-month colic is used. Colic usually starts in the second week of life and stops on its own after three months. The crying is convulsive, truly intense crying with pain, especially in the abdomen. 

There are many reasons for the convulsive crying. Babies with three-month colic are usually very sensitive and react to new impressions from the outside, but also from within, with intense crying (Every baby has its own unique digestion).

If your baby cannot be calmed down, try the airplane hold. Lying on the stomach is on the one hand a break after drinking and helps with digestion. But it also helps your baby to calm down.

There is no specific timeframe for the airplane hold. As long as you and your baby feel comfortable with it, you can hold your baby this way. 

Babies love lots of physical contact. If you hold your baby close to your body, it will very likely be happy. 

If you and your baby are struggling with the airplane position but still want to practice tummy time, there are alternatives. 

• Exercise ball
• Place a cozy blanket on the floor
• Place on Mom's or Dad's chest
• Rolled-up towel

We hope we were able to answer some of your questions about the airplane position. By the way, we are happy to report on baby gut health  – from food intake to digestion and even baby bowel movements. 

Sources:

• https://epub.uni-regensburg.de/43255/
• https://www.kinderaerzte-im-netz.de/media/53ec9e3733af614b7301400a/source/20140109195754_merkblatt-tummy-time.pdf
• https://www.sensible-osteopathy-berlin.com/blog/baby-und-bauchlage-teil-1/
• https://www.kinderarzt.at/kindergesundheit/lexikon/bl%C3%A4hungen-bei-s%C3%A4uglingen
• https://www.gesundheit.gv.at/krankheiten/kinderkrankheiten/verdauungsprobleme/dreimonatskoliken