Often, one of the major malady parents have to prevent in their newborn child is dysplasia of the hips. The reason for this is not far-fetched as this leads to uncomfortable adulthood or irregularities in posture.
But it starts from carrying your baby in an unhealthy position or using inappropriate baby carrier slings for long periods of time.
Thus, the vintage reason for you to get the best baby carrier for hip dysplasia. It will help you carry your baby in the M position, knees bent, and not when the hip joint or hips are forced, which is ideal for infants.
Why not check through this buying guide for the best carrier.
What is Hip Dysplasia?
What Are The Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Babies?
The full effects of these are full-blown later in life. Hence, you should practice hip-healthy practices alongside buying the best products. Babies with hip dysplasia or hip dislocation condition might be present with the following signs and symptoms;
- Pain in the Hips
- Legs of different lengths, uneven skin fold in the thigh and buttocks
- Less mobility/limping.
- Toe walking
What Are The Causes of Hip Dysplasia in a Baby?
A lot of things could cause hip dysplasia, which includes (but not limited);
- Genetics- The joints’ genetic makeup, especially the hip ligaments’ looseness, can cause this dysplasia. The release of the ligament relaxing hormone may cause this hip ligament looseness.
- The Abnormalities in the way the hip is developed can cause structural hip dysplasia or dislocation. The socket may be too shallow or/and the head of the femur also being too flat.
- The swaddling of the infant can also cause hip dysplasia. It can be caused by using a cradleboard, which keeps the hip wide for a prolonged period.
- Being a first-born infant can also be a cause—breech presentation at birth.
Genetically determined dysplasia of the hips can occur if the genetic factor causing hip dysplasia runs in the family. So if a parent, an aunt, or anyone on the family tree has/had hip dysplasia, that could predispose your baby to hip dysplasia or dislocation. That is to say that a family history of hips problems can be a contributory factor.
Can Baby Carriers Cause Hip Dysplasia?
A baby sling or carrier could be regarded as a piece of fabric/cloth fabricated to support the newborn, infant, or toddler. We choose baby carriers or slings based on the age and the weight of the baby.
Baby carriers can affect the hip positioning in a baby, and in the long run, contribute to the healthy hip development of your baby or otherwise.
Mothers and fathers must position the baby on the slings in the most comfortable way. Using baby carrier slings in which the baby’s legs are held together and folded could predispose the baby to hip dislocation. Instead, the baby carrier slings that put the baby’s leg in a spread squat position or jockey position are encouraged.
At this point, let’s check ideal baby carriers to avoid hip problems.
8 Best Baby Carriers For Hip Dysplasia (Comparison)
| Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | MiaMily Hipster Plus Hip Seat Baby Carrier |
| Check Price |
 | BABYBJORN Baby Carrier |
| Check Price |
 | Ergobaby 360 All-Position Baby Carrier |
| Check Price |
 | Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Carrier |
| Check Price |
 | LÍLLÉbaby Complete All Seasons Six-Position Baby Carrier |
| Check Price |
 | Bebamour New Style Designer Sling and Baby Carrier |
| Check Price |
 | Boba X Baby Carrier |
| Check Price |
 | Bable Baby Carrier with Hip Seat |
| Check Price |
1. MiaMily Ergonomic Hipster Baby Carrier
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 1.98 pounds
- Dimensions: 19.69 x 13.78 x 13.78 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back, Hip.
You may wonder why we have this baby sling on our list. Hold your breath. Apart from the six unique ways to position a baby it offers, its fabrication follows the specific guidelines and rules of IHDI regarding limiting the risk of hip dysplasia by fabricating a convenient ergonomic pack. Not only this, it is available in a grey color that can not easily reflect dirt, and it’s easy to wash with hands or a machine.
It also has detachable straps; thus, you can use the single hip seat alone when the baby is very tender. You can use the infant insert in the box to keep the spine and neck support at your baby’s tender age.
Features and It’s Benefits
Comfort and Protection
This pack was fabricated to protect or support the baby and make sure parents are comfortable while carrying their babies. This is made possible with padded straps and lumbar support, which ultimately adjust the weight. And unlike slings, You don’t have to hold the person with your hand as support, ad there is double protection. Because, apart from the straps, there is also zipper protection at joints.
Large Storage Facility
One essential feature that this carrier possesses is its large storage and side pocket. This avail you the opportunity to go around without a diaper bag, as you can pack most things you need for your bag inside the storage facility.
Pros
Cons
2. BABYBJORN Infant Carriers
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 2.7 pounds
- Dimensions: 11.42 x 22.83 x 0.39 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back.
Babybjorn carrier is one of the types of baby carriers fabricated with soft cotton. It comes in a gray/powder pink color. It is machine washable with a minimum weight of 8 pounds and a maximum of 33 pounds as recommended. It allows different carrying positions; the newborn position, the front position, facing in, front position, facing out, and the back carrying position.
Features and It’s Benefits
Presence of Supportive and Protective Features
This carrier is also hip friendly, making it provide correct supports to the baby’s hip and encouraging healthy hip positioning and good hip development. It comes with a wind Cover for baby slings, perfect when the carrier is used in wet, cold, and windy weather.
Adjustable and Flexible Features for Comfort
Ergonomic leg position is the prominent feature in this one. Its seat width is adjustable by a zipper, which allows for your baby’s healthy hip positioning. It also offers adjustable head support, which provides support to the baby’s head. Not only that, it has superior carrying comfort. Its wide, sturdy waist belt and padded shoulder straps give excellent carrying ergonomics.
Summarily, these carriers are comfortable, lightweight, and ergonomic, which allows for free movement of the legs with shoulder straps. Making it help relieve pressure off the shoulder and back. This baby carriage is certified by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.
Pros
Cons
3. Ergobaby 360 All position Baby Carrier
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.7 x 6.7 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back, Hip.
This all-position carrier comes in onyx black color. They also have lumbar support and cool air mesh. Besides, their minimum and maximum weight is 7pounds and 45 pounds respectively, as recommended. The manufacturer of these slings guarantees a replacement if there is a defect at no charge at all.
Features and It’s Benefits
Breathable and suitable for All carry Positions
Has your baby outgrown his/her baby wrap or other baby carriers? Then you need this all-position infant carrier. It supports carrying your baby in all positions. The inwards, front, outward, pelvic, and back carrying positions are supported. It has a breathable cool fabric and is straightforward to adjust to fit all body types.
Presence of Supportive and Protective Features
It has lumbar support that offers lower back support when required. It also has a UPF babyhood. This UPF babyhood provides sun protection and privacy for easy breastfeeding. They design it in such a way that makes it machine washable. This carrier is an exceptional item that is worth every dime!
Pros
Cons
4. Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Carriers
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 1.3 pounds
- Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 4.3 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back.
It is a soft carrier for the hips that is ergonomic and convertible. It supports carrying the newborns and older babies in the front and on the back. It features adjustable straps and can accommodate between 8-32 pounds of weight. Interestingly, these infant baby slings allow for ergonomic baby carrying practices, the experience of hand, and free convenience that allows for an opportunity for bonding and developmental benefit.
Features and It’s Benefits
Adjustable Supportive Features For Comfort
Besides converting the babywearing position of this 4-in-1 sling, it also possesses adjustable shoulder straps and a waist belt. And it helps carry the child seamlessly and spread the weight evenly. The seat is also adjustable and can be adjusted to carry a newborn or a growing toddler in any carrying position.
Durable Fabricating Material
This 4 in 1 soft structured carrier is fabricated with buckles, polyester, and cotton materials. Hence, it’s machine washable but should not be ironed. It’s also breathable and doesn’t absorb much heat making it comfortable for your newborn.
Pros
Cons
5. LILLEbaby Complete All Seasons Six-position 360degree Ergonomic Baby Carrier
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
- Dimensions: 14 x 4 x 11 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back.
Parents design these infant carriers for parents. Hence, cutting-edge technologies are employed in fabricating babywearing items.
Features and It’s Benefits
Six Ways Carrier with Supportive Features
They have six ways to carry a baby and possess exceptional lumbar support. They have a headrest and sleeping hood for support and sun protection. They also have two-way adjustable neck support. They have a zippered pocket, a dual adjustable strap for more comfortable breastfeeding, and generous padding.
They are ergonomic and healthy for the hips. These baby carriers are International Hip Dysplasia Institute certified. Further, these infant slings allow for the M seating or squat sitting position that promotes proper hip development at all stages and ages.
Temperature Regulator and Max Weight
They are ready to use with no hassle of an infant insert. They have a minimum weight of 7 pounds and a maximum weight of 45 pounds. With invaluable lumbar support, they provide stability and relieve lower back pressure. They are made of 100% cotton with a breathable 3D mesh and have a temperature control panel. You can zip up or down when necessary for temperature regulation.
Pros
Cons
6. Bebamour 2 in 1 Baby Carrier Sling
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 0.88 pounds
- Dimensions: 9.84 x 5.51 x 7.87 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back, Hip.
Correcting hip dysplasia will greatly be prevented by this baby carrier sling. Do you know why? Apart from letting your baby stay in a spread squat position, the baby carrier is also fabricated from durable materials and very comfortable. Further, you can also wash the carrier easily once you remove the foam pad present in the hip seat.
Features and It’s Benefits
Several Sitting Positions
The carriers offer up to 6 sitting positions; hence, you can carry your baby, so the legs are not narrow-based. You can use the single hip seat rather than the whole carrier sometimes. Though, you should also know that you should not use it for a baby above three months when using the hip-seat alone. Fortunately, the carrier comes with an instructional guide that helps you set up the carrier in a preferred position.
Supportive Facilities
It has adjustable straps for the shoulder and waist for flexibility and comfort. There is also a zipper pocket where you can keep a few things, especially baby items you need from time to time. What about the availability of a headhood to protect your baby.
Pros
Cons
7. Boka X Baby Carrier
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
- Dimensions: 19.69 x 0.79 x 53.15 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back.
Boka X sling is made with cotton and is machine washable; as simple as that sounds, it means your baby’s carrier is easy to wash and fabricated from a very durable material. Besides, it hip-healthy certified by the IHDI. Hence, you can be very sure, the risk of having hip dysplasia in your infant or toddler is very minimal, as it positions the baby in the M position.
The hip seat is also very comfortable for the baby and can be adjusted in any form. Since it is a sling, you don’t need any readjustment of any form or setup as it is being done in carriers; the adjustment here is flexible, straightforward, and intuitive. It might not be suitable for toddlers, especially when they are big, except if you have to support the legs/buttock region with your hands.
Features and It’s Benefits
Pocket Storage
In instances where you need some small items quickly, this pocket comes to your recuse. You can keep some items in it. This pocket could also serve as neck support for your baby’s neck.
Durable Material and Safety features
The adjustable straps on the waist and shoulder ensure the baby is protected from falling at all times. Further, the fabricating material is soft, durable, and 100% cotton. Hence, its machine washable and breathable.
Pros
Cons
8. Bable 6-in-1 Baby Carrier
OVERVIEW
- Weight: 2.12 pounds
- Dimensions: 11.69 x 11.22 x 6.57 inches.
- Orientation: Front, Back, Hip.
This unisex hip backpack is fabricated from 100% premium polyester material, and it’s ergonomic in nature. It is also comfortable in all weather conditions, and it’s breathable. The carrier also ensures your baby is safe with the buckle that is found on the waist belt. Suffice to say; the carrier is also very light.
Apart from also been easy to wash, the carrier is covered by velcro, which is very resistant to dust; Hence, it doesn’t get dirty easily.
Features and It’s Benefits
Disperse Burden
Many parents feel pain at times when carrying a baby for a long time in a carrier. However, this particular carrier has several force points and very wide shoulder straps. Therefore, you can carry your baby for a long time without body aches.
Comfortable Hip seat and breastfeeding cover
The seat is adequately padded such that it doesn’t affect the development of your baby’s bones. It also has a breastfeeding cover; thus, you have all the privacy you need while breastfeeding your baby.
Pros
Cons
Buying Guide
When purchasing an infant sling for the hips, the question that comes to mind is how healthy it is for your baby? Can it cause an unhealthy position? Does it increase the risk of dysplasia? Check your baby’s hips to ascertain if they are in a stretched-out position at an early stage and for a long time.
There are different types of baby carriers. Ones with safety and proper development of your child are paramount. In purchasing a sling for a baby with hip dysplasia, we must first consider the baby’s knee.
The baby’s knee should be on the same level or above the baby’s hips and “slayed” out on both sides. Thus, this is known as the frog or spreads squat position. A sling should allow for free movement. It should have a broad and adjustable seat that allows for adequate support to the thighs and buttocks. The baby’s knee is still tender, and the joints of the hips are not fully developed.
Can Improper Positioning Cause Hip Dysplasia In My Baby?
Improper positioning can cause dysplasia of your baby’s hips if your sling does not provide the needed support and proper positioning of your baby’s hip. The way the mother or father carries the baby on their body in the first six months will determine if the infant will have normal hip development or not.
Dysplasia is a medical condition in which the hip socket portion cannot cover the upper thigh bone ball, showing a potential risk of dislocation. The hip joints are partially or sometimes totally dislocated. Many conditions can cause dysplasia. An inconvenient baby carriage that makes the knees bent for some time can make the femur bone head come out of the socket. A significant effect is usually on the edges of the socket.
The International Hip Dysplasia Institute has shown that babywearing infants with a tight product for a lengthy time is inappropriate and can cause hip dysplasia. Any baby sling that puts a child in an unhealthy position should be considered dangerous. If a sling carrier keeps a baby’s leg inside, it may increase the risk of abnormal hip development.
Healthy hip slings put your baby in the natural position or womb position/the M position. Babywearing can cause more harm than good to your baby if a healthy hip position is not encouraged, which should affect your baby’s hip development. Any form of babywearing that alters the natural or fetal position defeats the very purpose of babywearing. Your baby assumes a fetal position right from the womb, with hips and knees in bent positions. Mothers and fathers should make sure that they have the best for their babies to avoid potential risks.
Final Word
Babywearing is an incredible innovation that has been improved from time to time with baby carriers’ reinvention. Improper use of slings can cause hip dysplasia in babies. Hence, the appropriate slings should be used. Hence, baby carrier slings that promote both mother and child’s comfort and being healthy to prevent hip dysplasia should be used.
Early detection of hip dysplasia in infants/toddlers based on the signs and symptoms should necessitate a visit to the Doctor’s, especially in the first few months of life. Medical advice or opinion should be sorted when necessary. Users’ guides or texts should be read thoroughly to avoid the abuse or misuse of a child carrier. Babywearing increases the bond between parents and their babies. It allows for ease of movement, thereby promoting the comfort of the parents and their little kids.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
A Pavlik harness is a piece of equipment, splint, or brace used commonly for babies with hip dysplasia. The Pavlik harness helps the hips and knees remain bent while the thighs spread apart. A Pavlik harness is indicated for infants with hip dysplasia in their first six months of life.
They sometimes use the Pavlik harness when there is a fracture of the femur. Hence, you can use the Pavlik harness with a child sling if they have diagnosed the baby with hip dysplasia or are at a risk of hip dysplasia.
The best is the Ergobaby 360 All Position Baby Carriers. This product supports the baby in all carry positions, the inward, front, outward, hip, and back carry positions as their name implies. Also suitable even when the baby outgrows other baby carriers or baby slings. It has a breathable and cool fabric, and it fits all body types/shapes effortlessly.
It has lumbar support that provides lower back support when needed. You do not have to suffer back pain while carrying your babies. It has an ultraviolet protection babyhood cover for protection against sun rays and privacy for easy breastfeeding. It is machine washable, and its manufacturers can buy back a previously used baby carrier! These carriers are fantastic products that are worth every dime!
Yes. Good hips seat provides the needed support to your baby’s hip, preventing any improper posturing that can predispose the baby to hip dysplasia. Always remember a hip-healthy carrier makes babywearing worthwhile.
Baby carriers slings are not safe for infants between 1 to 6 months of life due to lack of proper head control. At this stage, we should do babywearing with caution.