Can using a baby carrier cause hip dysplasia in babies? Find out below.
What can you read in this article?
- How long can you carry baby in a carrier? Safety tips in babywearing
- What is hip dysplasia?
- Can using a baby carrier cause hip dysplasia?
If you're the type of parent who's usually out and about. Who always wants to be joined at the hip (no pun intended) with your little one while still having your hands free, then babywearing or using a baby carrier is for you.
Baby carriers are in many ways a blessing for parents on the go and a convenient alternative to bulky strollers. Aside from literally taking some load of parents and helping soothe your infant. Babywearing is also a good way of promoting parent-child bonding and interaction.
Like most baby products, there are many types of baby carriers in the market to choose from - baby wraps, baby slings, mei-tais, soft-structured carriers, front-facing carriers, back-facing carriers, and frame backpacks are some of the most popular.
However, did you know that the type of baby carrier you choose may contribute to a condition in your child known as hip dysplasia?
Image from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute website
Hip dysplasia
Dr. Siow Hua Ming, an orthopedic surgeon at and Medical Director of Providence Orthopedics at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre in Singapore. Explains that hip dysplasia in babies is a condition where there is a poor fitting of the hip joint.
In other words, hip dysplasia is the medical term for a hip socket that doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone. Which may allow the thighbone to slip out of the socket, partially or fully (hip dislocation).
Because hip dysplasia is usually not painful to young infants, experts caution that it could go undetected until the child starts walking. What’s more, it may lead to painful adult arthritis.
Dr. Siow says that hip dysplasia occurs in around 1% of babies. The risk is increased by being first-born, female, and having less amniotic fluid than normal in the uterus.
An infant's hips are very pliable, making them naturally susceptible to hip dysplasia
Causes of hip dysplasia in babies
According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, the exact causes of childhood hip dysplasia are not known. However, they've identified a few possible reasons in addition to what Dr. Siow points out, including:
- Genetics: Hip dysplasia is approximately 12 times more likely in a child when there is a family history of it.
- Position in the womb: A baby’s position in the womb can cause pressure on the hip joints, contributing to hip dysplasia following birth. A baby in the breech position is more likely to have hip instability than babies positioned normally.
- The pliability of an infant’s hip joints: A young baby’s hip socket is made up of soft, pliable cartilage, which may make it easier for an infant’s hip to dislocate.
- Infant position in the first year: Cultures that keep babies’ hips rigidly extended (e.g. using a papoose board) have high rates of child hip dysplasia. This is in contrast to other cultures where children are carried with their hips held apart.
Signs of hip dysplasia in babies
According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, the following are the most common signs of hip dysplasia in a child:
- Asymmetry: Asymmetrical buttock creases may be an indication of hip dysplasia in babies, but it will need to be confirmed with an ultrasound or x-ray.
- Hip clicks: A snapping or clicking sound from the hips may be an indication of this condition, but once again, it's best to investigate further with an x-ray or ultrasound.
- Limited spread of hips: You might find it hard to change your baby's diaper because the hips can’t fully spread.
- Pain: While infants and young kids with hip dysplasia typically don't have pain, it is the most common symptom of hip dysplasia during the teen years or as a young adult.
- Swayback: After a child learns to walk, an exaggerated waddling limp or difference in leg length are the most common indicators of hip dysplasia. Limping with a marked swayback is a common symptom when both hips are dislocated.
What to do if you suspect your child has hip dysplasia
Dr. Siow advises that if parents suspect any problem with their child’s hips, they should see a pediatric orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. Hip dysplasia has the best treatment outcomes when detected and treated early.
As a parent, there is not much that you can do about the first three possible causes of hip dysplasia in babies mentioned above.
However, you can certainly educate yourself about correct infant positioning immediately after birth, when the risk is highest, and through the first year.
With this in mind, the type of baby carrier (and swaddling method) you use and how you choose to position your baby can definitely assist with reducing the risk of hip dysplasia.
Can using a baby carrier cause hip dysplasia in children?
A baby carrier can either reduce or increase the chance of infant hip dysplasia. According to health professionals, it takes several months for a baby’s joints to stretch out naturally following birth.
During a baby’s first few months of life, the "ball" of the hip joint is generally loose within its soft cartilage socket.
If the baby’s hips are forced into a stretched-out position too early, then the ball may permanently deform the edges of the socket (hip dysplasia) or completely slip out of the socket (dislocation).
Some baby carriers may promote such unhealthy hip positioning in a baby.
The unhealthiest position for an infant’s hips
If a baby’s legs are extended with the hips and knees kept straight and the legs brought together, there is a greater risk of hip dysplasia occurring, and it's one of the baby carrier side effects, especially if this position is maintained for a long time.
Dr. Siow explains that the healthiest position for a young infant's hips is when they are flexed and abducted. In other words, it’s when your baby’s hips fall or spread naturally apart to the side, with his thigh supported and hips and knees bent.
This position is also known by the following terms:
- Jockey position
- Straddle position
- Frog position
- Spread-squat position
- Human position
Image from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute
The orthopedic surgeon pointed out that if a baby carrier does not allow sufficient flexion and abduction, it may increase the risk of hip dysplasia through the unhealthy positioning of a child’s hips. This risk has more often than not been associated with forward-facing baby carriers.
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What should parents look for when choosing a baby carrier?
A backward-facing baby carrier, according to Dr. Siow, tends to promote the bending and movement of the hips by virtue of the baby being pressed against the parent’s abdomen or trunk. It is recommended that parents think about choosing a backward-facing carrier when selecting one for their baby. It is also important to have a carrier that is comfortable for both the parent and baby. What's more, the carrier should provide good support for the baby’s spine and minimize flopping of the head, while not being too restrictive and uncomfortable for the baby. Fortunately, there are already a lot of ergonomic baby carriers in the market like Mama's Choice Baby Hipseat Carrier that supports the baby's natural posture and promote healthy hip and spine development. Check out our list of recommended baby carriers here.Babywearing safety tips
Aside from the kind of baby carrier you are using, there are other things to remember when babywearing. For starters, you have to make sure that the baby's airway is clear and her back and neck are supported when she's on the carrier. According to Healthline, there's an acronym that the babywearing community swears in ensuring your child's safety when in a baby carrier.
- T: Tight. Your baby should be upright and snug enough in a carrier that they’re held safely against whoever is wearing them to prevent accidental falls.
- I: In view at all times. Your baby’s face should be visible to you at all times so you can monitor their breathing. You can also keep a better eye on their mood and disposition if you can see them. If your baby looks fussy, maybe there's something wrong with how you're carrying her.
- C: Close enough to kiss. Babywearing parents know this tip by heart. When you lower your head, you should be able to kiss the top of your baby’s head? If you're not able to do this easily, reposition them in the carrier until they’re high enough to kiss with little effort.
- K: Keep chin off chest. Ensure that there’s a gap of about two fingers wide under your baby's chin. If they’re in a good upright position with their spine curved and legs squatting, it’s less likely that their chin will drop.
- S: Supported back. While you want your baby to be snug and secure, avoid over-tightening the carrier over their back. Remember, the carrier should be tight enough that there’s no gap between your baby and your body, but also loose enough that you can easily slide your hand into the carrier.
How long can you carry a baby in a carrier?
According to Danelle Fisher, M.D., chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, babywearing is not advisable for long periods of time, so when to stop using a baby carrier?"This is not meant to be a position that the baby should be in for several hours," she points out.
Dr. Fisher recommends limiting babywearing to an hour, giving breaks for baby to stretch out his hips and limbs, and for mommy to rest in between.
What kind of baby carrier do you use? Do you think it correctly supports your baby's hips? Let us know in the comments!
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore
Additional information from Camille Eusebio