- A new animated video teaches parents safe wrapping techniques for their baby
The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) has developed a new online video for parents about the risks of wrapping newborn babies too tightly.
The video, launched today by Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell, demonstrates how to wrap babies safely to protect against developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).
DDH (or dislocation of the hip) is the fifth most common reported birth defect. It causes the infant’s hip to develop abnormally and can require complex surgical correction to prevent problems in later life.
Wrapping or swaddling newborn babies can help them feel more secure and may assist in establishing regular sleeping patterns.
However, according to RCH Chief of Paediatric Surgery and Director of Orthopaedics Associate Professor Leo Donnan, research has shown wrapping babies tightly with their legs held straight can lead to DDH.
“For new parents, a baby with poor sleeping habits can be distressing. In recent years swaddling has been advocated as an effective way of settling a restless infant but, if not performed safely, can have the unforeseen consequence of affecting the development of the baby’s hips, even to the point of dislocation,” said Associate Professor Donnan, who led the project with his Orthopaedics team.
If left untreated, DDH can lead to serious health conditions including a limp or arthritis later in life.
The growing concern over the impact of wrapping newborn babies too tightly has resulted in the Victorian Government providing the Royal Children’s Hospital $34,000 to develop the online video which shows parents safe wrapping techniques.
Minister Lovell says the video encourages parents to wrap newborns carefully so their legs are not restricted in any way.
“This step-by-step animation is a quick, easy way parents can learn the best ways to wrap their babies so they don’t hinder normal hip growth and development,” Ms Lovell said
“I’d like to encourage every parent to watch this short video.”
As part of this work, the Victorian Government and the RCH also created an updated online training module for doctors, nurses and health professionals involved in screening babies for hip dysplasia.
The training module was released last year and recognised with a Victorian Public Healthcare Award. It is also receiving global attention and will soon be featured on the International Hip Dysplasia Institute website.
“I am delighted this important work, developed right here in Victoria by the extremely talented team at the RCH, is now not only going to help reduce the risk of DDH here in Australia but all over the world,” Ms Lovell said.
The video for parents is available at www.rch.org.au/safewrapping