Swaddling putting newborn hips at risk

[Taurean]

Taurean - I just looked those up, they look great. Think I'll invest for this baby.

They're well worth it. I borrowed a couple from a friend and DD2 loves them. I tried transitioning her to a GroBag last night (DD1 transitioned fine at 9ish weeks) but she didn't settle until we put her back in swaddle bag - and she went straight to sleep I'm going to buy the next size up and will try the 50/50 ones to transition her to arms out. They're such a great idea.

BTW, we were taught to swaddle our girls in hossi but I did notice the swaddle was always wider (looser) around their legs giving them a bit of room to move. The focus seemed to be more on their arms and chest but I was personally under the impression that 'the tighter the better' was the way to go.

[wysiwyg]

Interesting article.

There is such a range with hip dysplasia, I can see that tight swaddling could lead to an increase in certain areas.

DD had hip dysplasia, on one side there was virtually no socket - she came out like that - swaddling would have made zero difference.

DS does not have hip dysplasia but on his first ultrasound (ultrasound was automatic due to sibling with the condition) he was borderline and had to have another at six weeks at which point he was considered ok - (the hips keep developing after birth so I can see why swaddling in the early days could have an impact). He was never swaddled (only maybe in the hospital once or twice where they seem hell bent on it for some reason) - nothing to do with hips but because I don't like the idea of it at all - I would hate it personally so wouldn't do it to my two (each to their own though, I know some adults love tight heavy blankets). I also could never get my head round the concept, they have a startle reflex yes but to me it seemed easier to let them get used to startling themselves and falling back to sleep when they are newborns than later on (worked ok with my two - but all babies are different).

Anyway I can see how tight swaddling (also heard the can never be too tight etc etc) could have led to DS hips not developing so well over those six weeks due to restricted movement. I do think there is better diagnosis now, and I suspect the fact babies are bigger than they used to be, carried less (wraps and other carriers often position babies legs in a good position for hip development), mothers are more sedentary - office jobs etc, all has an impact on its incidence.

Whether or not there is a resurgence in tight swaddling as mentioned in the article I am not sure, but in hospital swaddling was something that seemed to be deemed absolutely necessary and there was no mention of any disadvantages of swaddling.

[~TT40~]

....
Whenever I teach mums how to swaddle I have always done it so even though bub is secure, their limbs still fall in a natural comfy position for them.
either I'm a terrible swaddler - and a bad midwife for not being able to teach it =P or, I'm ahead of the times =P

[Sagres]

I have heard of this before, but as hinted at in the article, the kind of swaddling in question was super super tight swaddling, a practice mostly used in different cultures and different to what most of us would think swaddling is. I think it involves different materials to what a lot of wraps you would buy here now, materials that would give you more ability to get it really tight?

Years and years ago I spoke to midwife who had been in a developing country (can't remember where, perhaps Asia somewhere?) working on a project to discourage the super tight swaddling practice due to the hip problems, and she described it as different to the 'wrapping' that I do now.

[Cranky Kitten]

Whether or not there is a resurgence in tight swaddling as mentioned in the article I am not sure, but in hospital swaddling was something that seemed to be deemed absolutely necessary and there was no mention of any disadvantages of swaddling.

You're right about the hospitals/midwives all being insistent on swaddling - I got into trouble because the midwife would come in and DS would unswaddled just with a blanket tucked over him fast asleep...I'd wrap him up for as long as it took for her to nick off