Hip dysplasia in babies

Key facts

Hip dysplasia, also known as developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), is when one or both of your baby's hips don't develop normally.
If your baby has hip dysplasia, they may have one leg that is shorter than the other, one foot that is turned out, or they might have no symptoms at all.
Your baby may have a higher chance of hip dysplasia if they are your first baby, they were in a breech position before birth or you have a family history of hip dysplasia.
If your doctor or early childhood nurse thinks your baby may have hip dysplasia, they will recommend a hip ultrasound or refer you to a paediatrician.
Treatment of hip dysplasia will depend on how severe the condition is — it may include wearing a brace or having surgery.

What is baby hip dysplasia?

Hip dysplasia (Opens in new tab) occurs when one or both of your baby's hips don't develop normally.

Usually, the femoral head (the round part of bone at the top of the thighbone) sits in a cup-shaped socket in the pelvis. Ligaments and muscles help keep it in place.

If your baby has hip dysplasia, the femoral head is not stable in the socket. This may happen if the:

muscles or ligaments around the hip joint are loose or stretched
socket is too shallow
femoral head is too small to stay in place

What are the symptoms of hip dysplasia?

Often, hip dysplasia is not obvious. Doctors and early childhood nurses will do regular checks to look for hip dysplasia in all babies.

They will check if your baby:

has uneven skin creases near the buttocks or at the front of the upper leg
has legs that are a different length
doesn't move their legs normally
has a turned-out foot
has a stiff hip joint
leans to one side when standing
has difficulty parting their legs for nappy changes

In older children, they may check to see if your baby is:

not sitting by 10 months of age
not walking by 18 months of age
leaning to one side when standing or walking
waddling when they walk

Hip dysplasia in babies can affect one or both hip joints.

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What are the causes of hip dysplasia?

There are various possible causes of hip dysplasia:

Hormones released during pregnancy can lead to relaxation of your baby's ligaments. This can make your baby's hip joint less stable.
If your baby is in a breech position in the uterus, this can place pressure on their hip. This may make hip dysplasia more likely.
Tight swaddling can increase the chance of hip dysplasia. If you swaddle your baby, make sure they can bend their hips and knees freely.

Other factors that increase your child's chance of developing hip dysplasia include:

being a first-born child
female sex
having a family history (Opens in new tab) of hip dysplasia
having a turned out foot

When should I see my doctor?

Hip dysplasia is often first noticed during a routine health check.

Your doctor, midwife or early childhood nurse can check your baby's hips at any time. They will most commonly check your baby's hips:

at birth
one week after birth
6 weeks after birth
6 months after birth
when they begin to walk

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How is hip dysplasia diagnosed?

If your doctor, midwife or early childhood nurse thinks your child may have hip dysplasia, they will refer (Opens in new tab) you for an ultrasound (Opens in new tab) or x-ray (Opens in new tab) of your baby's hips.

Your doctor may refer you to a paediatrician (Opens in new tab) if:

your baby's hip appears dislocated or unstable
the ultrasound or x-ray shows hip dysplasia
your baby has reduced movement of one hip, especially after 8 weeks of age
your baby has a difference in leg length or problems with walking

How is hip dysplasia treated?

Treatment for hip dysplasia will depend on your baby's age and how severe the condition is.

Braces

If hip dysplasia is diagnosed at birth, your baby may be recommended to wear a soft brace called a Pavlik harness (Opens in new tab).

Other braces include the Denis Browne Bar (Opens in new tab) and the Hippo/Rhino Brace (Opens in new tab). These braces help to keep the hips flexed (with the knees up) and abducted (with the legs apart). This is the best position for the hip joint to develop.

Your doctor will talk with you about the brace they recommended for your baby.

Diagram showing braces to treat hip dysplasia: Denis Browne brace, Pavlik harness and Hippo/Rhino brace. — Illustration showing the different types of braces to treat hip dysplasia.

An orthopaedic specialist will teach you how to care for your baby while they are wearing the brace, including how:

many hours a day your baby needs to wear the brace
to change their nappy and clothes
to wash your baby
to care for their skin

Babies with braces usually have regular hip ultrasounds to check their progress.

Closed reduction procedure

If treatment with a brace isn't effective, your child may need a procedure known as a closed reduction. During this procedure your baby's hip is moved into the correct position while they are under anaesthetic (Opens in new tab) (sedation).

Open reduction surgery

Some babies with hip dysplasia will need a more significant operation to put the femoral head back into the socket. This is known as an open reduction surgery. The hip joint is also made more stable by tightening the surrounding ligaments.

This is more common if your baby is diagnosed after 6 months of age.

Hip spica cast

After open reduction surgery and sometimes after a closed reduction surgery, your baby will need a hip spica (Opens in new tab) cast. This is a plaster cast that covers your baby's body from their knees to their waist. They may need to be in a hip spica cast for several months.

Your baby's hips should develop normally after treatment. Your doctor will monitor your child for rare problems such as arthritis (Opens in new tab).

What are the complications of hip dysplasia?

If left untreated, hip dysplasia can lead to a limp. Over time, a limp can progress to arthritis (Opens in new tab).

It's important to diagnose and treat hip dysplasia early to prevent any complications.

Resources and support

Read more about hip dysplasia (Opens in new tab) on the Sydney Children's Hospital Network page.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne offers information, including:

Your maternal child health nurse can teach you how to:

breastfeed your baby in a brace
wrap your baby so that their legs can bend at the hips
position your baby in the brace
change your baby's nappy
bathe your baby while in the brace

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 (Opens in new tab) or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

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Last reviewed: March 2026

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