How to Stop Spit Up During Tummy Time

Tummy time play, which usually begins during the newborn phase, often reveals reflux issues. Pressure on the tummy, as happens when your child lies on their belly, often causes spit-up. While some spitting up is normal, vomiting, poor weight gain, or distress are causes for concern.

If your baby upchucks most feedings (no matter the age), it’s time to make some adjustments to tummy-time play so your child gains weight and eats without distress (yours or theirs).

Eliminating tummy play is not recommended. Instead, try these ideas.

Keep Your Baby’s Head Elevated

Babies spit up in the early months because the muscle at the top of their stomach is not yet fully developed. That muscle, the lower esophageal muscle, keeps the stomach’s contents from coming back up. Sadly, that sphincter muscle will remain weak until your baby is between six and twelve months old.

If your baby is a spitter-upper, do tummy-time play while your little one is on your chest. This position keeps your baby’s head higher than their legs. When your baby’s head is elevated (even a little), it is harder for the milk in your child’s stomach to travel up and out of the mouth.

You can also make tummy time a happier time by placing your baby on a play mat with a small rolled-up towel under their upper chest, keeping the head slightly higher than the legs. Making this small adjustment often stops most spit-up, so your baby can enjoy tummy time.

Do Not Do Tummy Time Immediately After Feeding

If you want to prevent spit-up during tummy time, wait about 30 minutes after a feeding before starting. Waiting gives some of the milk time to digest and reduces the amount in the stomach that could come back up.

In the newborn phase, short intervals of tummy time are recommended. As your child gets a few months older, add a few more minutes to each session.

A few short sessions of tummy-time play during the waking hours are much better than one session per day (no matter how long). Share on X

Doing these shorter sessions throughout your day makes it easier for fussy babies to tolerate and can limit the risk of spit-up and discomfort.

The Measure of Success

While some spitting up is normal, if your baby is intolerant of tummy time, try these additional tips to stop spit-up during tummy time. If these minor adjustments to the activity do not resolve the issue, speak with your child’s health care provider. Medications or further testing may be necessary to help your baby keep their food down, gain weight, and be comfortable playing on their stomach.

The good news is that most babies eventually stop vomiting up their milk around four months old, as their muscles get stronger and they spend more time upright.

The measure of success is a happy baby who enjoys playing on their tummy and a peaceful mother who no longer worries about whether she’s doing the right thing.

If you have more questions or concerns, get my FREE Download: 10 Signs Your Baby Needs Help because my measure of success is that you are confident, not worried.

 

(Photo: Canva)