Swaddling your baby can be a great tool to help comfort and soothe your baby but if not done properly it can cause post natal hip dysplasia. Hip Dysplasia is actually the most common infant abnormality and is most common in breech birth babies. It has recently been discovered though that infants whose hips were normal at birth developed the condition in the months after birth from improper swaddling. The condition often goes undiagnosed but can potentially lead to the early onset of adult arthritis of the hips. Here are some tips for swaddling to avoid hip dysplasia from Dr. Price:
- If using a blanket, wrap firmly around the arms loosely around the legs so the hips can move freely.
- When swaddling baby, avoid stretching the legs straight or pressing them together.
- Encourage baby’s hips to be spread out and bent as if riding on a horse. (When carrying baby, wrap legs around your body for proper hip development.)
- Consider using a sleepsack product with a roomy bottom such as the Halo SleepSack Swaddle which is a fool proof way to swaddle baby in a hip healthy manner.
For additional information, visit www.hipdysplasia.org.
With all of my children Sleepsack Swaddles have been a lifesaver. Swaddling with a blanket can be tricky but with a Sleepsack Swaddle it couldn’t be easier. The baby is zipped into the Sleepsack and an attached wrap is fastened with Velcro around the baby’s upper half leaving the hips, legs and feet able to move freely. Sleepsacks can also help reduce the risk of SIDS by keeping babies the right temperature without the use of loose blankets or crib bumpers. If there’s one thing I recommend to new mom’s, it’s a Sleepsack Swaddle.
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