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
