Swaddle This

SinDerella — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 03:52:33 GMT

A new study suggests that babies who are swaddled have a greater risk for hip dysplasia. Swaddling can render a baby's legs immobile, but in order for hips to develop properly the legs need to be relaxed. Today.com reports, "Doctors suspect that swaddling increases the risk of dysplasia because it gets in the way of normal development, says Dr. Anthony Scaduto, chief of pediatric orthopedics at the Orthopedic Institute for Children at the University of California, Los Angeles."

But before you put away your swaddles keep in mind that there are safe ways to swaddle. Swaddle blankets like the Swaddle Me and the HALO Sleep Sack allow a baby's legs to move while keeping their arms nice and snuggly. There is also a video on safe swaddling techniques. As an article inSlate points out, the risk of hip dysplasia isn't relevant to American babies, because swaddling practices here don't render a baby's legs immobile. And rates of hip dysplasia in America are not on the rise. So swaddle away, you tired parents!

Swaddling has often come under fire; it's banned in Texas day cares, and Pennsylvania just passed a similar law. Yet, despite the debate over swaddling, most experts don't recommend swaddling past four months

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Swaddle This