How Hip Healthy is Your Carrier For Your Baby?

For any baby, hip dysplasia is a risk faced, especially in the very early months of life. Unfortunately, the resulting ailments are full-blown at a later stage in life.

Therefore, apart from buying the best products (baby carriers that prevent deformity in the hip sockets), some other practices are essential to consider, and they are available in this article.

What Does “Hip Healthy” Mean?

Hip healthy is a term that describes the best way to carry infants while avoiding hip dysplasia or dislocation.

Thus, swaddling your baby with a support such as a wrap or a carrier in a way that perfectly wraps the baby’s bottom and thigh and spread apart the hips and knees bent with enough space for flexibility is a hip-healthy position, similar to a jockey position or a spread squat position.

What is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dislocation or hip dysplasia refers to the improper formation of the ball and socket joint, which is when the hip socket does not cover the ball of the femur fully, this most times, results in dislocation.

According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, Hip dislocation is often noticeable in adults and children. However, most hip dysplasia in adults must have begun during birth or in the first six months after birth due to a lack of healthy hip development.

After the first few months or six months of the infant, poor hip positioning might not be possible as the hip ligaments must have been strong with good hip positioning.

What Are The Signs Of Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia or dislocation varies based on the age bracket.

For babies of around six months or babies in general, a parent might notice the following signs:

• A hip joint is less flexible than the other while changing diapers for the baby.
• Undue space between the baby’s legs.
• Shorter leg on the dislocated hip joint.
• There might be limping as the baby starts walking.

While in adults, frequent hip problems seen are:

• Osteoarthritis or tear of the labral hip joint.
• There might be a feeling of hip joint instability during physical activities.

Can a Baby Carrier Cause Hip Dysplasia?

At times, baby slings or baby carriers for hip dysplasia affect the healthy hip positioning or hip development of babies.

According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, using baby carriers or baby slings that compresses a baby’s legs together could lead to hip dysplasia.

Hence, it was always advisable for parents babywearing infants to make sure the baby’s legs are not folded but wrapped around the parent.

Also, the positioning should be in a spread squat position.

The A, B, C, and ‘M’ of Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia in infants is often called developmental dysplasia of the hip. In adults, it is called socket or acetabular dysplasia.

Several months after the birth of an infant, the joints begin to stretch out naturally, and the ball is loose within the socket because of the soft cartilage of the socket edges and flexibility of the baby.

In a situation where the hip is stretched out of position very early, it could result in the ball gradually slipping out of the socket, which causes hip dislocation.

At other times, the ball could permanently deform the edge of the socket.

Hence, resulting in a risk of hip dysplasia. For a baby, the initial few months of life have the highest risk of hip dysplasia.

Though, not noticeable as it is not painful and only shows up in the body when the baby can walk properly.

For a healthy hip, baby carrying should be in the M position or natural position.

In this position, the thigh’s support is adequate, the hips and knees bent, the knees a bit higher than the bottom of the baby, and the legs spread apart around the parent’s body.

Baby Hip Dysplasia: How to Avoid it

Avoid using baby carriers or products that are not comfortable or that make you swaddle the legs and thighs of your baby together or straight out.

Hence, while using a baby carrier, carry your baby in the M position.

Parents could also seek medical advice regularly from a pediatrician to prevent the risk of hip dysplasia.

What Makes a Baby Carrier Safe and Hip Healthy?

While baby carriers might not be safe for infants between 1-6 months of age due to lack of proper head control, it is safe for babywearing infants above six months.

Apart from the baby carrier fulfilling the ‘M’ position, an appropriate baby carrier should allow the legs, head, and hands of babies to stretch out naturally without any hassle.

Besides, the baby carrier should come with an instructional guide, not be tight the baby, and satisfies European or US standards.

Final Words

Aside from using the right hip carrier for infants, a regular visit to the hospital, especially during the first few months after birth, is essential.

Parents should also adhere strictly to the doctor’s opinion, as most Hip dysplasia patients have this hip socket challenge from childhood.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)