How to Support Baby Hip Development: Hip Dysplasia Activity Guide
At Focus Chiropractic, we often work with babies who have been identified as having hip dysplasia or who are transitioning out of a brace. While every baby is unique and medical recommendations should always be followed, there are many gentle, developmentally supportive ways parents can encourage healthy hip development through everyday movement and play.
The goal of these activities is simple:
support natural hip positioning
encourage proper muscle development
reduce unnecessary strain on developing hip joints
When appropriate, these strategies may help reduce the need for bracing, or support smoother integration after brace use, by honoring how babies are designed to move.
Understanding Healthy Hip Positioning
A baby’s hips develop best when they are:
Flexed (knees bent)
Abducted (legs gently opened outward)
This position, often called the “M-position” or frog-leg position, helps the femoral head sit deeply and securely in the hip socket, encouraging healthy joint development.
Many everyday baby activities naturally support this position when done intentionally.
Daily Foundations for Hip Health (0–12 months)
Frog-Leg Positioning
During diaper changes, cuddles, or playtime, allow your baby’s legs to remain bent and open rather than holding them straight together. This gentle positioning supports optimal hip alignment without force.
Hip-Healthy Babywearing
Choose carriers that support your baby’s thighs with knees slightly higher than hips. Proper babywearing naturally places the hips in an ideal developmental position while offering comfort and regulation.
Floor Time Over Containers
Unrestricted floor play allows babies to explore movement at their own pace. Limiting time in swings, bouncers, and exersaucers helps avoid prolonged hip extension or compression.
Side-Lying Play
Side-lying play encourages gentle hip flexion and activation of the core and lateral muscles. A rolled towel behind your baby’s back can provide support while they explore toys in front of them.
Tummy Time on Your Chest
Tummy time doesn’t have to be flat on the floor. Placing your baby on your chest allows natural hip flexion while building neck, trunk, and postural strength.
Strength & Alignment Activities (3–12 months)
As babies grow, strengthening and coordination become important for hip stability.
Butterfly Hip Movement
With baby relaxed, gently bend the knees and allow the legs to open and close like butterfly wings. This should always be slow, easy, and pain-free.
Diagonal Reaching
Placing toys slightly to one side encourages babies to shift weight and activate hips dynamically. This is important for crawling and later walking.
Feet-to-Mouth Play
When babies bring their feet toward their mouth, they naturally engage core muscles and maintain hip flexion and openness.
Hands-and-Knees Positioning
Rocking gently on hands and knees helps build hip stability and prepares babies for crawling without forcing early standing.
Standing From Knees (Later Stages)
Allow babies to transition to standing from a kneeling position rather than being lifted directly to their feet. This supports controlled hip engagement and strength.
Activities to Avoid or Limit
To protect developing hips, we recommend limiting:
Tight swaddling with legs straight and together
Excessive time in baby seats, jumpers, or walkers
Forcing early standing or walking
Holding baby’s legs together during diaper changes
Supporting Babies After Brace Use
After bracing, babies often benefit from gentle reintroduction to movement. Floor play, babywearing, side-lying play, and hands-and-knees activities help rebuild strength and coordination while honoring the work the brace has already done.
Progress should always be gradual, calm, and responsive to your baby’s cues.
A Gentle Reminder
Every baby’s journey is different. These activities are not meant to replace medical care, imaging, or orthopedic recommendations but rather to support your baby’s development alongside them. If you have questions about your baby’s hips, movement patterns, or development, we’re always happy to support you.
At Focus Chiropractic, our focus is gentle care, informed parents, and supporting your baby’s natural development. If your baby is showing feeding challenges, tension, or symptoms you’re unsure about, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Need help deciding where to start?
We suggest booking a Mama & Baby visit at Focus Chiropractic where we help babies feed, grow, and thrive naturally.
