:quality(80))
Ergonomics, leg position and hip dysplasia
BabyBjörn has been developing baby carriers for almost 50 years, and we’re 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.
In most cases, hip dysplasia will be diagnosed by a doctor at a very early stage. But in some cases, hip dysplasia will be discovered later. The treatment required depends on when the hip dysplasia has been discovered.
To ensure that our baby carriers are ergonomic and safe, we have a research partnership with the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.
Charles T. Price, Medical Director Emeritus and Pablo Castañeda, Medical Director and the director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, say this about baby carriers and hip dysplasia:
"There is currently no conclusive evidence establishing a connection between hip dysplasia and the use of infant-carrying products. Potential concerns stem from prolonged swaddling practices maintaining extended hip and knee positions.
The International Hip Dysplasia Institute recommends the M-position for infants with hip dysplasia, with insufficient evidence indicating harm from alternative carrying positions. However, it is crucial to note that potential harm can result from prolonged positioning in a single stance.
The Institute recognises BabyBjörn for its commitment to developing products fostering healthy hip development.
The International Hip Dysplasia Institute makes recommendations in collaboration with diverse partners for collective Hip Health Initiatives."
Since a young baby’s body is far from fully developed, and their skeleton is soft, it’s important that our baby carriers respect the anatomy of the baby. We do this by offering a wide-enough leg position, where the legs are spread and give the hips good support. We design our baby carriers in a way that ensures that 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 width of the leg position can also be adjusted as the child grows. The common feature of all our baby carriers is that they’re ergonomically safe and promote healthy development.
Parents sometimes ask us whether babywearing in a baby carrier puts too much pressure on the baby’s crotch. The fabric of our carriers gently hugs the baby, and the design helps to distribute the weight evenly over the child’s body. In other words, there’s no need for parents to worry about the baby’s crotch supporting all their weight.
If you’d like to read more about how our baby carriers have been developed in collaboration with medical experts, you can do so here.
If you’d like to read more about the Spanish research study that investigated how babywearing in a carrier affects an infant’s hips, you can do so here.