Swaddling has been in the news a lot this week – unfortunately, for all of the wrong reasons – with the story of William Vannest being forcibly swaddled in day care outraging parents everywhere.
Now, experts have called for parents to ensure that they are swaddling their children correctly, as failing to do so could create serious health problems for your little one.
The warning comes after the publication of yet another report, this time from Australia, whereby little Lucia Paglia was diagnosed with hip dysplasia – most likely due to being swaddled too tight by her parents.
Speaking to local news media, Rob and Libby Paglia spoke of how they noted that Lucia was walking with a limp, but they didn’t realise the seriousness of the situation until a doctor made the diagnosis.
Lucia’s treatment following her diagnosis is enough to show just how dangerous swaddling incorrectly can be: she had to have her hip realigned, she has undergone two surgeries, and she has had to wear two full body casts.
With recent research showing that hip dysplasia has increased threefold in babies over three months of age since 2013, it’s important to ensure that you are not swaddling too tightly, and that you are adjusting your method as your child develops.
For information on when to stop swaddling, check out this link.
