Helping Your Baby Find Relief from Gas: Why Tummy Time Is More Powerful Than You Think

Key Takeaways:

• Gas can be a normal part of development and is easily addressed with bicycle legs, knees to chest, gentle tummy massage, and tummy time. Read on for more tips.

• If your baby has persistent vomiting, poor weight gain, blood in the stool, severe abdominal swelling, or inconsolable crying that doesn’t improve, be sure to contact your pediatrician. These symptoms may indicate something more than typical infant gas.

  
  

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If you’ve ever spent an evening pacing the house with a fussy, squirming baby, you’re not alone. Gas is incredibly common during the newborn and young infant months. As babies learn to coordinate feeding, digestion, and passing gas, they often experience periods of discomfort that can leave both babies and parents feeling exhausted.

As a pediatric physical therapist, I frequently hear parents ask, “What can I do to help?” While there are several gentle techniques that can provide gas relief, one of the most effective—and often overlooked—strategies is consistent tummy time.

Why Do Babies Get Gassy?

Newborn digestive systems are still developing. Babies naturally swallow air while feeding and crying, and their abdominal muscles and digestive tract are still learning how to move gas efficiently through the intestines.

Gas can cause:

• Fussiness, especially after feeds

• Pulling the legs toward the tummy

• Squirming or arching

• Difficulty settling to sleep

• A firm or bloated belly

Fortunately, there are several simple movements that can help.

1. Bicycle Legs

One of the most well-known techniques is gently moving your baby’s legs in a bicycle motion.

Lay your baby on their back and slowly alternate bringing one knee toward the chest while extending the other leg. The rhythmic movement helps encourage gas to travel through the intestines and can often stimulate a bowel movement.

Keep the movement slow and gentle—there’s no need to force the legs.

2. Knees to Chest

Another helpful exercise is bringing both knees toward your baby’s tummy.

Gently bend both hips and knees, holding them against the belly for a few seconds before releasing. Repeating this several times creates gentle pressure on the abdomen that can help move trapped gas along.

Many babies visibly relax after a few repetitions.

3. Gentle Tummy Massage

Infant massage can also support digestion.

Using light pressure with warm hands, make small clockwise circles around your baby’s belly. Since the large intestine follows a clockwise path, this direction helps encourage the natural movement of gas through the digestive tract.

Watch your baby’s cues. If they seem uncomfortable, reduce the pressure or try again later.

The Secret Weapon: Tummy Time

While bicycles and massage are wonderful tools, the strategy I recommend most consistently is tummy time.

Parents often think of tummy time as something that only helps babies develop neck strength or prepare for rolling. Those are important benefits—but tummy time also provides gentle, natural pressure on the abdomen that can significantly help babies pass gas.

When your baby spends time on their tummy while awake and supervised, gravity and gentle compression work together to encourage trapped gas to move through the digestive system. Many parents notice their baby passing gas during or shortly after tummy time.

From a physical therapy perspective, tummy time has several advantages:

• Gentle pressure on the abdomen helps move gas naturally.

• Active movement of the arms, legs, and trunk stimulates the core muscles that support digestion.

• Frequent position changes reduce the amount of time babies spend lying flat on their backs.

• Regular tummy time promotes healthy motor development while also helping with digestive comfort.

It’s one of the few activities that supports multiple areas of development at the same time.

Making Tummy Time Easier

If your baby isn’t a fan of tummy time, you’re not alone. Many newborns prefer short sessions.

Try:

• Starting with just 1–2 minutes several times each day.

• Placing your baby on your chest while you recline.

• Using a rolled towel under the chest for support.

• Getting down on the floor face-to-face with your baby.

• Trying tummy time after a diaper change instead of immediately after a full feeding.

Remember, tummy time doesn’t have to happen all at once. Multiple short sessions throughout the day are just as beneficial as one longer session.

A Few Final Tips

Every baby is different. Some babies pass gas easily, while others need a little extra help during the first few months.

Along with bicycles, knees-to-chest movements, and tummy massage, prioritize daily tummy time as part of your routine. Not only does it support healthy movement and development, but it also provides a simple, natural way to help relieve uncomfortable gas.

If your baby has persistent vomiting, poor weight gain, blood in the stool, severe abdominal swelling, or inconsolable crying that doesn’t improve, be sure to contact your pediatrician. These symptoms may indicate something more than typical infant gas.

For most babies, though, a little movement goes a long way. Sometimes the best remedy isn’t found in a bottle—it’s found on the floor during a few minutes of tummy time