A common question I get asked by first time cloth nappy users is: Does the extra bulk of a cloth nappy effect baby’s hip development?
The answer is NO!
Cloth nappies keep a newborns hips slightly wider apart than disposables do but this is actually the optimum position for a newborn. When a baby is born their hip joints haven’t fully developed and at birth and at their 6/8 week check the Doctor will check for “clicky hips” or hip dysplasia. If baby has clicky hips they often need to wear a pavlik hip harness. This harness keeps their legs wider apart so that the hip ball and socket joint are held in a deeper position and can develop properly. This usually helps prevent the need for hip operations later on.
Cloth nappies don’t hold the hips in as wide a position as a hip harness but the extra width and support cloth nappies provide can sometimes prevent the need for a hip harness at all. In the past hip dysplasia was treated by putting the child in 2 bulky terry squares at a time to achieve the wider leg position.
One of my recent customers Kirstie has written about her experience with clicky hips.
“We had already decided our son would use cloth nappies before he arrived and we purchased a complete nappy system from Wendy during antenatal. He stared wearing them after the meconium had been passed out his system.
In his fifth week he was diagnosed as having a “clicky hip” and he required a Pavlik harness. We were reassured to learn from the paediatrician that the cloth nappies had been helping to keep his hips in a better position compared to the thinner disposable nappies. At first it was tricky to weave the nappys’ velcro fastenings through and underneath the harness straps, but after a couple of days we were changing nappies fairly expertly. We had a few leakages at first as the harness was keeping his legs wide open but as soon as his thighs bulked up the seal around the legs was tighter and no more accidents.
He is now four months old, and was only in the harness for 7 weeks. We are happy knowing that the cloth nappies are still augmenting his hip joints.
We regularly receive positive comments about using cloth nappies, and we are really pleased that we made the decision to use them.”
Once baby is also cruising and walking their bottoms and backs will thank you for choosing cloth. Learning to walk requires a lot of falling too. The impact (especially on hard floors) is softened by the fluffy padding of their nappies. I know i’d certainly prefer to fall over with a thick layer covering my bottom than just thin trousers!
For more benefits of Cloth Nappies see our article “Advantages of Cloth Nappies.”
Wendy
www.thenappylady.co.uk
www.facebook.com/TheNappyLady
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Monday, January 9th, 2012, 4:23 pm | 
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09/01/2012 at 5:22 pm
Before you bought TNL, Wendy, I had a customer whose child’s hip dysplasia was completely cured (according to her consultant) without needing a special harness at all. She was using the Motherease Onesize, which is exceptionally wide on a newborn.
09/01/2012 at 5:34 pm
Thanks Morag I remembered you telling me about the lady but typically couldn’t find the details. It drives me mad when i see disposables being advertised as being so slim to help “active” babies.
09/01/2012 at 7:30 pm
Hi
My 2nd daughter now 20 months was breech. She had her hips scanned at 6 weeks a routine process for breech babies in our area. We were told by consultant while I was still pregnant that it was just to make sure all was well. During her new born checks all was well and pead told us she would more than likely be discharged at the 1st scan. However during the scan the consultant discovered that her hips were immature and she would need to be put in a splint. We were asked to return in 4 weeks for her to be fitted with her splint. I asked if during this time we could do anything to help. She suggested we double up her disposable nappy. I was just away to start with our cloths, so I basically went home & doubled up her cloths straight away. I spent the next 4 weeks researching splints and wondering how we were going to cope. We attended the appointment and Libby was scanned again to check measurements. She was still wearing 2 cloth nappys. To our and the consultants amazement her hubs were perfectly within the normal measurements. The consultant called her cloths her magic nappys and said that they probably had done the job. As you can imagine we were delighted. I’ve used cloth on both my girls. Both have crawled, crused & walked at 1 year old.
09/01/2012 at 8:09 pm
That’s brililant news Ashley. What a relief to avoid the splints, i hope you felt very proud of yourself! Wendy
09/01/2012 at 7:46 pm
Lots of people comment that they actually like the big bum look that my LO sports. Pity so many nice trousers aren’t cut to fit. Luckily she seems to like leggings which stretch over nappies nicely.