Hip Dysplasia affects about 10 in every 1,000 babies born every year. This statistic may seem insignificant to some, but for parents faced with this issue, it can present significant angst, stress and challenges.

Changing your baby's nappy, dressing and clothing your baby, swaddling, breastfeeding and transporting your baby are all challenges we face, but babies with hip dysplasia often have the added disadvantage of a hip brace.

Hip Babes is here to help and offer some ideas which may help you and your baby settle into this unfamiliar territory. Hip Dysplasia appears to present itself more frequently in girls rather than boys so don't take offense that we've used the term 'her'! The ideas below are for your information only, and are by no means a substitute for the advice of a qualified medical practitioner. Hip Babes is not to be responsible for any harm or injury resulting from interpretations of the information herein. Please consult your baby's medical specialist for any related queries.

Putting on the Rhino Brace The instructions for putting the Rhino Cruiser Brace assume that you have a compliant child who likes to be immobilised! But this is not the case for most kids, especially if they are in the brace later in their lives and have already experienced freedom. Some parents eventually give up trying to put it on a brace in their child's wakeful hours and find it's better to wait until they are asleep - that way your baby is in her brace without being aware so can sleep well and there are no tantrums. Please refer to your baby's specialist and get them to demonstrate how best to put on brace and how many hours are necessary.

Nappy Changing The Rhino brace has the unfortunate side effect of squishing the nappy and causing it to leak. You may give up on all-in-one pyjamas and invest in a few Hip Babes pants and t-shirts instead. It's a good idea to increase the number of nappy changes at night. If you baby has problems with skin rashes, you can try nappy rash cream all down her thighs. This protects her legs from developing a nappy rash. Some babies or children with hip dysplasia may have already spent time in a spica cast, so their hips will be quite stiff. One way to get the Rhino brace on is to lift your child's bottom upwards and then into the brace (instead of holding legs together as per normal nappy changes). If you have any doubts, please refer to your baby's specialist.

Brace Hygiene If your baby is in the brace full time and she is crawling, it can get particularly filthy! The brace should get a good wipe every night and sometimes scrubbing it with baby shampoo and a good rinse, also helps.

Walking
As far as walking is concerned, if your child is already walking they will be able to walk in the brace. If your child isn't yet walking then they probably won't learn to walk in the brace. However some babies start to cruise (i.e. walk with the help of holding on to objects and furniture) in the brace, at the same time as crawling. Do not stress too much if your baby is walking a little later than most but do speak to your baby's specialist if you have any concerns.

Clothing It's important to ensure your baby is comfortable in the clothing that she wears underneath the brace. Soft, breathable clothing between their skin and the plastic parts of the brace is a good idea. Thick fabrics like denim will bunch up uncomfortably under the brace so lots of comfy pants or leggings can fit much better under the brace. To cover up the brace and keep it clean, why not try Hip Babes legwarmers?

Sleep Time
Sometimes babies or toddlers become masters of getting their brace off themselves. They may even manage to completely undress - sleepwear and their nappy too! This no doubt means mornings can be quite messy! Baby sleeping bags are too narrow for the wide legged position of the baby in the brace, but one Hip Babes parent recommends sewing your own sleeping bags with lots of zips and poppers to make it more difficult for your child to escape from! In the summer months, your baby may still obviously be in the brace but you could try wrapping the end of the velcro strap around the plastic strip that goes across your baby's bum. Then feed it under the original strap and stick it down. Your baby's specialist should also recommend what best to do including sleeping positions etc...