Steps Warns That Incorrect Swaddling Of Babies Can Lead To Hip Dysplasia

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 10 Mar 2011 - 1:00 PDT


As part of Baby Hip Health Week 2011 (13th - 19th March), the national charity STEPS is calling for parents and professionals to learn how to swaddle babies correctly because if done wrong it can potentially lead to hip dysplasia.

Whilst swaddling can comfort a baby, reduce crying and assist with settled sleep patterns, STEPS and the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) insist that parents and professionals need to know how to swaddle properly to ensure they're not putting their baby at risk of developing hip dysplasia.

Babies can be swaddled with blankets or specific products, but in order for healthy hip development, the legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips and the baby's legs should not be tightly wrapped straight down and pressed together. Swaddling infants with the hips and knees in an extended position may increase the risk of hip dysplasia and dislocation.

The organisations have also said that when using a travel system, a baby's legs should not be restricted in a straight down and pressed together position. They need to be able to spread their legs wide in an "abducted position" and care should be taken on limiting the time your baby spends in these "bucket type seats" as this could affect the way the hip grows, causing hip dysplasia.

STEPS Director and member of the IHDI Advisory Board, Sue Banton, said, "We don't want to scare parents but by swaddling their babies in the wrong way or putting them in travel systems for extended periods of time, there is a real risk of that child developing DDH".

She added, "This announcement is part of our annual Healthy Hip Week which is intended to help raise awareness amongst parents and health professionals of the vital need to check babies' hips during the first few weeks of life to prevent unnecessary pain and disability in later years." For more information and guidelines please visit here.

Notes

References on swaddling:

- See here.

- Mahan, S., Kasser JR, Does swaddling influence developmental dysplasia of the hip? Pediatrics, 2008. 121: p. 177-8

- van Sleuwen, B., Engelberts AD, Boere-Boonekamp MM, Kuis W, Schulpen TWJ, L'Hoir MP,, Swaddling: a systematic review. Pediatrics, 2007. 120: p. e1097-e1106.

The national charity STEPS is hoping their Baby Hip Health Week 13th - 19th March 2011 will help raise awareness amongst parents and health professionals of the vital need to check babies' hips during the first few weeks of life to prevent unnecessary pain and disability in later years.

In the UK alone, up to 2000 children a year are diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), which describes a range of conditions from mild instability to total dislocation of the hip. Early detection means DDH can often be corrected by a simple outpatient treatment, but a later or missed diagnosis can leave a child requiring hospital stays, operations and potentially a permanent disability.

Even if the hips appear to be normal it is important to be aware of signs that might mean there is a problem. The signs parents should look out for include:

- one leg appearing shorter than the other.
- an extra deep crease on the inside of the thigh.
- crawling with one leg dragging or walking with a limp or a waddle.

Whilst these signs are not conclusive, they may indicate the need for further investigation. Please seek medical advice if you are concerned.

To help change this and put STEPS and DDH on the public agenda, the charity is asking people to hold a 'Put the Kettle On' event during Baby Hip Health Week.

Source:
Tally PR

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