Protecting Your Baby’s Hips: What You Need to Know About DDH

When you bring a new baby home, you spend hours counting their fingers, toes, and admiring every little detail. One thing you cannot see, however, is how their hip joints are forming.

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is a medical term that can sound terrifying to a new parent, but it is actually a highly treatable condition. It simply means that a baby’s hip joint is a little too loose, the hip socket is too shallow, or, in some cases, the hip is dislocated.

Because babies' joints are mostly soft cartilage, a shallow socket means the thigh bone can slip around. Pediatricians screen for this during your baby's routine check-ups by gently rotating their little legs to check for stability.

The most reassuring thing about DDH is that when it is caught early—often in the first few months of life—it is very easy to fix. Treatment usually involves a soft fabric brace or harness. This keeps your baby’s legs in a "frog position," which gently guides the hip bone back into the socket, allowing it to mold into the correct shape as they grow.

Signs to look out for at home: Your doctor will check for DDH, but between appointments, keep an eye out for these subtle signs:

• Uneven leg creases. Look at the back of your baby's thighs and buttocks; the chubby skin folds should be relatively symmetrical on both sides.

• Different leg lengths. One leg might appear slightly shorter than the other when they are lying down.

• A "clunk" or click. If you feel or hear a distinct popping sensation when changing their diaper and opening their legs, mention it to your doctor.

• A waddle or limp. If DDH is missed in infancy, you might notice your toddler limping or waddling when they first learn to walk.