Your Baby’s Hip Health

Your newborn baby’s hips may not be the first thing you think to be mindful of, but with much physical activity throughout life being dependent on pelvic stability, the care we provide for our baby’s hips and our knowledge of their development can actually have long lasting implications.

Newborn Hip Check

Shortly after birth, during the newborn examination, your baby’s hips will be gently manipulated. This is to check for any clicking or difficulty in movement, which may indicate concerns with your baby’s hip stability or development.

It is estimated that up to 15% of babies are born with some form of hip instability, yet many of these babies won’t need treatment or any further

intervention. This is determined through further tests such as an ultrasound scan to check the formation of the joint. Between 2 & 3 babies per 1,000 births go on to be diagnosed with a condition called Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (or DDH).

What is DDH?

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (also known as Hip Dysplasia) is a condition where the ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabular) that make up the hip joint aren’t well developed in the baby. The socket within the pelvis may be too shallow to securely accommodate the ball at the top of the thigh bone, and this bone itself may be misshapen, making it difficult for it to fit well in the socket.

Pain is not a common symptom in infancy, even in more severe cases where the hips are dislocated, but it is a condition that has the best chance of correction if it is detected early. If left untreated or undiagnosed (as can happen in milder cases where the hips aren’t dislocated) people with DDH can experience pain, limited mobility and possibly even osteoarthritis later in life. Treatment in adulthood involves surgery, with the last resort being a total hip replacement.

So, what can I do as a parent?

Much of a baby’s hip joint is cartilage, which, with appropriate treatment and care, can still form into a more optimally shaped joint before it becomes hardened (and permanently shaped) bone. If your baby is diagnosed, you will be advised on the appropriate course of treatment, which may involve a harness (a sort of brace to hold the hips in the correct position) or surgery (although this is rare) and given much more detail on how to care for your baby’s hip health during treatment and thereafter.

Some babies don’t require any medical intervention at all, but still present with some hip instability at birth and some cases are so mild they aren’t easily detected, but could still be problematic in later life. Whilst DDH isn’t preventable, there are things you can do to try to look after baby’s hips and to support the continued healthy formation of the hip joint.

How can I do this?

What we can do as parents, grandparents and carers is be mindful that baby’s hips are allowed free range of movement, giving rise to baby’s natural position of thighs against the tummy. This position and the natural movements of the joint allow for deepening of the socket and shaping of the ball. Caring for baby in a hip healthy way doesn’t mean purchasing anything you otherwise wouldn’t. It’s as simple as just being mindful of how you carry out certain tasks and making adjustments if needed.

• Swaddling Swaddling is the act of wrapping baby in a suitable cloth or blanket so that they feel secure and reminded of the tight womb environment. If you choose to swaddle, in addition to being aware of the safety aspects in terms of overheating and rolling, be mindful not to wrap tightly around the hips. The snug part of the swaddle should only be around the abdomen and upper body. The legs should be free to move, allowing the knees to part fully and the ankles to be brought up to the bottom with no restrictions.

So, a baby’s hips are something to be mindful of, even without a diagnosis of DDH, as they are still developing. As long as you are not binding the legs together during swaddling and you are conscious of keeping the knees above the hips when carrying, • Slings and Carriers The optimal position when carrying your baby in a carrier or sling is for the material on which baby’s bottom rests to fully cover the area from behind one knee to the behind the other and for baby’s knees to be higher than the hips, creating an “M” like shape if you look at a baby from behind when in a carrier. You can make a simple adaptation using a scarf or length of material and placing it under baby’s bottom so that it cradles baby’s bottom and thighs, right to the knees and tying it around your back. However, this is a temporary measure and may not be entirely comfy for you or baby as your little one becomes heavier,

so a carrier with a good size gusset area is best. you are doing the best by your baby and their hip health.

For more information, visit: www.hipdysplasia.org Or www.steps-charity.org.uk/conditions/hip-dysplasia-ddh/