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.
Dr Charles T. Price, Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, has this to say about baby carriers and hip dysplasia:
“There is no evidence that any product in which a child or infant is carried causes hip dysplasia. The evidence of harmful hip positions stems from swaddling exercises that keep hips and knees in an extended position for long periods of time. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute believes that the M-position may benefit hips that have hip dysplasia or hip instability, but there is no evidence that other positions may be harmful when it comes to carrying babies. A research report from Spain has shown that stable hips in infants remain so even when they are not in the M-position. In particular, the International Hip Dysplasia Institute has recognised BabyBjörn as a leader in the development of products that are healthy for babies and promote healthy hip development.”
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.