Baby Registry Safety: How to Choose Safe Swaddle Blankets & Carriers for Your Newborn Baby Gear Newborns Kids' Health

When creating your baby registry, many expectant parents rely on friends and family for practical advice on what's really needed. Two must-have registry items for many, a swaddle and a baby carrier, may require a closer look to ensure that you are choosing the safest products for your baby.

"All parents want to select the best for their baby, and in many cases this also means the safest,” says Dr. Charles Price, Pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. “When it comes to selecting swaddle garments and a baby carrier there are specific features parents should look for to ensure their baby's proper physical development."

When babies are born, their hips are not fully formed. Products that support healthy hip development are a must to avoid the possibility of postnatal hip dysplasia. Products that do not properly support baby's growing body can directly affect baby's hip development resulting in lifelong issues such as arthritis and other ailments leading to early hip replacement surgery. Here are some simple tips for choosing swaddles and carriers that will ensure healthy hip development for your baby:

Safe Swaddling

• Look for a swaddle garment that features a roomy bottom, allowing Baby’s legs to bend up and out at the hips. This position allows for natural and proper development of the hip joints.

• Any swaddle that wraps baby’s legs straight or pressed together does not support proper hip development.

Baby Carrier Safety

Proper hip position is especially important during the first six months of Baby’s life and when Baby is in a carrier for extended periods.

• Look for a carrier that allows Baby’s legs to be in the “M” position with the thighs spread around the parents’ torso and the hips bent so the knees are slightly higher or level with the buttocks. The carrier should provide support from the thighs to the knee.

• In a proper carrier your baby will be in a spread squat position and take on the look of a jockey.

The information on 30Seconds.com is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, and is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your personal healthcare provider.