It’s a fact: all BabyBjörn baby carriers are hip-healthy
Find out what pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of IHDI Dr. Pablo Castaneda says about hip dysplasia, baby carriers and babies’ hip development in this video.
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BabyBjörn has been developing baby carriers for more than 50 years, and we are no strangers to the debate about baby carriers and hip dysplasia – an incorrect development of the hip joint. We also know that this creates unnecessary anxiety for parents who naturally only want the best for their child.
Babywearing is a wonderful, enriching experience that evokes a lot of precious feelings, but unfortunately a lot of misunderstanding as well. For years, there have been misconceptions that baby carriers can cause or worsen hip dysplasia, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Ergonomics is all about movement
Ergonomics is a science which combines many different aspects of the body and the mind, also taking different body shapes into account. Good ergonomics involves motion and freedom to move around and altering positions regularly. The WHO recommends changing position every hour for a baby under the age of one (1).
Babies need motion and freedom to move their legs, to be able to kick. As long as their legs are spread and there is room for motion, the position is good from a hip development perspective. That is also why the IHDI acknowledges all our baby carriers as hip-healthy.
“There is no relationship between baby carrying and hip dysplasia when used appropriately for amounts of time that are reasonable.”
Dr. Pablo Castañeda, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI)
But what about the M position or frog position?
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The frog position, the M position, the physiologic position – you have probably heard of them all. There are many different positions for babywearing out there, and the fact is that no single position is better than the other for healthy hip development. Carrying inwards, outwards (when your baby is ready, usually around the age of five months), or on the back (when your baby is approximately a year old) – pick and choose. They are all good positions and there is no such thing as one ergonomic position. Focus on your baby’s needs, pay attention to their signals, keep altering positions, and your time close together will be wonderful.
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No evidence that a single carrier or position can cause hip dysplasia
Dr. Pablo Castañeda, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI), has been dedicated to helping families with children with hip dysplasia for over 20 years.
He explains that hip dysplasia is a multifactorial condition, which means that it is not caused by one single factor specifically. There are in fact many factors that together can cause hip dysplasia, such as genetics and the early development of the hip (children born breech).
Dr. Castañeda clearly states that there is no evidence that any type of baby carrier can cause or worsen any case of hip dysplasia. There is no right or wrong way to carry your baby as long as you follow the general safety guidelines. As long as the hips are wide, this is a good position. Wide in this case means that the legs are spread and not tightly locked together, to allow for motion. There is no specific angle that needs to be focused on as long as the hips are not forced together.
“There is no evidence that a single carrier or single position for a limited amount of time causes hip dysplasia.”
Dr. Pablo Castañeda, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI)
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All BabyBjörn baby carriers give support and room for motion
Our baby carriers, regardless of which model you choose, offer a position where the legs are spread, allow room for motion and give the hips good support. We design our baby carriers in a way that ensures the child is sitting in the same position as if they were being carried in their parent’s arms.
Depending on the child’s age and the baby carrier’s area of use, our different models offer leg positions in different widths. Our baby carriers and the leg position width can also be adjusted as the child grows. The common feature of all BabyBjörn baby carriers is that they are ergonomically safe and promote healthy development.
What is Hip Dysplasia?
- Hip Dysplasia means that the bones of the hip joint are not aligned properly.
- It affects thousands of children and adults each year.
- Hip Dysplasia has many different names:
Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip – DDH
Congenital Dislocation of the Hip – CDH
Neonatal Hip Instability – NHI
Acetabular Dysplasia
- Hip Dysplasia prevents the hip joint from working properly, and the joint wears out much faster than normal, much like a car’s tires will wear out faster when out of alignment.
- Hip Dysplasia also begins as a “silent” condition so that pain is uncommon until the later stages. This makes it harder to detect.
Source: The International Hip Dysplasia Insititute website
Want to learn more about hip health?
In this guide you’ll learn about ergonomic babywearing for both you and your little one.
Baby Carriers
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Baby Carrier Mini
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3D Jersey, Light beige
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Baby Carrier Harmony
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Woven Mélange, Light gray
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Baby Carrier One Air
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3D Mesh, Gray beige
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Baby Carrier One
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Woven Mix, Black
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