Hip Abduction
 

Hip abduction is one of the most common operations performed by orthopedic surgeons. Orthopedic surgeons correct skeletal deformities of bones and muscles and of the joints and spine. Hip abduction can be onset (caused by) or aggravated by spread leg baby carriers or carrying a baby in an improper position for a long period of time before his/her bones and joints have developed and strengthened.

A baby carried in the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder baby sling can be placed in the same positions that the parent/caretaker naturally carries a baby of that age in. Infants (preemie to one year) are held in the arms in the cradle position (also called the nursing position), the incline position (also called the “football” position), and the tummy-to-tummy position (also called the “burping” position). In these positions, there is no aggravation of hip abduction because the baby’s legs are together and/or flexed and the natural line of the spine is followed. We can mimic these positions exactly with the OTSBH with some additional benefits to the parent/caretaker: 1) the baby’s weight is easily distributed on the caretaker’s body, and 2) this allows the caretaker to have free hands to deal with other tasks. An additional benefit for the baby is that his/her head is supported without compressing the spine.

With a conventional front or back carrier, the baby’s weight is borne by a strap that is between their legs pressing them apart. Besides being uncomfortable for the baby, this can cut off circulation to the baby’s legs, and can increase the incidence of hip abduction. An additional problem for the baby is that the weight of the head in this vertical position is forcefully balanced on and compresses the newly developing spine (remember the “soft spot” on the crown of your babies head—all of their bones are soft and forming).

When the baby is about 6 months old, we naturally begin to prop the baby on our hip (called the hip carry, hip prop or hip straddle). We naturally shift to this position because the baby becomes too heavy to carry in our arms—our legs and hip can carry much more weight than our flexed bicep. Fortunately, our creator (or mother nature if you like) took this into consideration during our design process and allowed time for baby’s bones to develop before baby became too heavy to carry in the arms and would be relegated to this position out of necessity. By six months, the bones that needed to be soft and pliable during growth and the birthing process have matured. Multiple benefits for the parent/caretaker are: 1) the parent does not have to thrust their hip out (this allows for healthier posture for the parents) to hold up baby because the sling keeps them in place, and 2) the parent’s arms are free to deal with other tasks (this allows for more sanity for the parent), and the baby/toddler can be comfortably carried in this position until 3 or even 4 years old depending on the parents fitness and inclination.

A position that is used with slings all over Central and South America rather that the hip straddle is to put the baby/toddler in exactly the same position except rather than spreading the baby’s legs around the parents hip, the baby’s legs are kept together and the butt and thighs are “slung in the sling” with the child’s knees together in front of parent.

These are just a few of the reasons hundreds of the world’s foremost baby experts recommend the OTSBH as “the sling to get”.

Bill Devin