…FREE Halo Innovations “SleepSack Swaddle” to one lucky NML reader!

All you have to do is click on the title of this post, and add a comment about why you would like this fabulous product. Infant Hip dysplasia is a terrible thing to deal with, and the information donated by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, is an important read!  The video is quite informative as well…

(Comments must be in by midnight on Wed., February 16, 2011.)

WINNER  ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011.

Good luck and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Note from Nurse Mommy: I was contacted by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, who kindly re-educated me on the recent research of babies who have hip dysplasia, and how improper swaddling techniques can be damaging to your infant’s hips.  One of the first things you learn in the hospital after delivering your baby is how to properly swaddle your child.  For years this method of cocooning the baby’s entire body tightly has been practiced.  However, as we see in the medical field often…change can be good!

What is Hip Dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia is the medical term for instability, or looseness, of the hip joint that affects thousands of children each year. This ranges from mild instability to complete dislocation. Approximately one out of every twenty full-term babies has some hip instability and 2-3 per 1000 will require treatment.

Persistent hip instability is a silent childhood condition that frequently causes disability and arthritis in adults.

In spite of the frequency and the potential for life-long disability, there is poor awareness of this condition outside the medical profession. Early diagnosis and simple treatment is the best solution, but some cases are undetected or difficult to treat with current methods of care.

Hip-Safe Swaddling

Are you swaddling your baby properly?

Many parents find that swaddling can provide comfort to fussy babies, reduce crying, and develop more settled sleep patterns. While parents and babies may enjoy these benefits from swaddling, care must be taken to swaddle properly to ensure the baby’s health and safety. Improper swaddling can lead to hip dysplasia.

For swaddling to be both effective and safe, the baby should be wrapped so that the legs are able to bend up and out at the hips. This position allows for natural and proper development of the hip joints.

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.

International Hip Dysplasia Institute Video:

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSVAaEBZv2k]

International Hip Dysplasia Institute website found at http://www.hipdysplasia.org