Medical
Hip Dysplasia
Are you swaddling your newborn properly?
Swaddling infants with the hips and knees in an extended position increases the risk of hip dysplasia and dislocation. It is the recommendation of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute that infant hips should be positioned in slight flexion and abduction during swaddling. The knees should also be maintained in slight flexion. Additional free movement in the direction of hip flexion and abduction may have some benefit. Avoidance of forced or sustained passive hip extension and adduction in the first few months of life is essential for proper hip development. [5]
The baby's legs should not be tightly wrapped straight down and pressed together. Swaddling infants with the hips and knees in an extended position may increase the risk of hip dysplasia and dislocation. It’s especially important to allow the hips to spread apart and bend up. In the womb the legs are in a fetal position with the legs bent up across each other. Sudden straightening of the legs to a standing position can loosen the joints and damage the soft cartilage of the socket. [5]
The International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) acknowledges the Kepi Kozy Swaddle as a "hip-healthy" product
plagiocephaly (flat-head syndrome)
A study conducted at by the School of Nursing at Mount Royal University in Calgary, came back stating, "Infants between seven to 12 weeks of age examined by researchers, 46.6% had a flat spot on their head. Overall, 78.3% percent had a mild form of positional plagiocephaly. About 63.2 percent had it on the right side of their heads." In special cases, children may have to wear a special helmet or band for most of the day if the condition is still moderate to severe after five months of age, the AANS said. Therapy can last from two to six months. [1]
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths. As a result, pediatricians have seen an increase in the number of children with positional plagiocephaly, or positional skull deformities (flat heads). [8]
Image via (Courtyard Osteopaths)
Cost of flat-head?
Flat-Head Helmet Therapy costs up to $3,000
Most children do not like to wear anything on their heads and it will take 1 to 2 weeks for your child to adjust. Wearing the helmet may cause perspiration. It is important to keep your child's head and hair clean. You should wash your child's hair every day. The inside of the helmet should be washed with mild soap and water to control the growth of skin bacteria and fungus. You should inspect your baby's skin to look for red spots that indicate pressure points. [7]
Colic | Gerd | Acid-reflux
Colic is defined as "excessive crying." An infant with colic usually cries for more than three hours per day on more than three days per week. Colic is extremely common and occurs in up to 40 percent of all infants. [2]
GERD is Gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is a chronic digestive disease. GERD occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, stomach content, flows back into your food pipe (esophagus). The backwash (reflux) irritates the lining of your esophagus. [4]
Acid-Reflux as know as Infant reflux, occurs when food backs up (refluxes) from a baby's stomach, causing the baby to spit up. Sometimes called gastroesophageal reflux (GER). [3]
sleeping at an incline
Having your newborn sleep at a slight elevated angle has been shown to aid in digestion and sounds sleep. "Keeping your baby's crib mattress elevated at the head of the crib to keep him in a raised position while he is sleeping is helpful in dealing with gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD is particularly irritating to babies because they often remain lying down through much of the day, which can cause acid to remain in the esophagus, especially if you lay your baby down immediately after he eats. When your baby is suffering from a cold, viral infection or other illness that causes congestion or mucus buildup, elevating his crib mattress can provide some relief. Keeping the baby's head slightly elevated can help relieve her postnasal drip during the night". [6]
[1] Castillo, Michelle. ""Flat Head Syndrome" Found in 47 Percent of Infants." CBS News. CBS, 08 July 2013. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. [2] "Colic." American Pregnancy Association. American Pregnancy Association, 18 Jan. 2016. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. [3] "GER." Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. [4] "GERD." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. [5] "Hip-Healthy Swaddling." International Hip Dysplasia Institute. International Hip Dysplasia Institute, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. [6] Leigh, Sommer. "Should Baby Cribs Be Slightly Elevated on One Side?" Livestrong. Leaf Group, 09 Oct. 2015. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. [7] "Molding Helmets." The Hospital for Sick Children, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2017. [8] "Preventing and Treating Flat Head Syndrome in Babies." American Academy of Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics, 28 Nov. 2011. Web. 01 Jan. 2017.