The one topic that you want to know in the early days but the one that most consultants care least about. How do you dress a baby in a Pavlik Harness?
I remember this question swimming round and round my mind for days, if not weeks, and nobody could really give me any answers. But I hope today, after reading this post, you’ll feel a little more informed. From one parents experience to another, wherever you are on your hip dysplasia path.
I hope today you feel more prepared to dress your baby in their pavlik harness.
Under or over a vest?
Let’s start with the basics- It completely depends on your consultants opinion as to whether the harness will be against bare skin or if a vest is permitted beneath the straps. Luckily for us, our consultant recommended 23.5/7 wear, giving us half an hour a day to bath, play and redress him, with a soft vest against his skin. This option feels so much kinder to their delicate skin, and I’m sure it helped us greatly.
If your little one has to wear the harness directly on their skin, try using soft breast pads or oval cotton wool pads under the harness in any areas that rub. This will help to protect their delicate skin from any irritation. In the early days we also did this around the shoulder straps to prevent rubbing onto the neck, as you can see here.
Protecting the backs of the legs too
We noticed quite quickly that the creases behind Aces knees become sore, shiny and red. We think it was due to the harsh edge of the boot, and wrapped the edge with cotton wool to add some comfort. A comfy pair of long socks (try ones that a good few sizes up, we bought aged 2) that come over the knee will really help too. You can also apply talc to the skin to prevent the area becoming too sweaty, and we did use a little barrier cream during the 30 minute harness free time.
Sticking to ‘normal’ clothing
Very generally speaking, it appears easier to dress a baby girl in a pavlik harness than a baby boy. Dresses and full rompers disguise the harness well, just be careful to opt for long socks rather than tights, which could pull the thighs back together and work against the harness.
We were lucky in that Ace was just approaching the next age up (3-6 months) so some of these size clothes were roomy enough for him. We also sized up again (6-9 months) a few weeks into treatment as he grew bigger. Just make sure nothing is restricting babies legs and altering the position of the pavlik harness.
Sleepsuits worked well, especially those which were particularly roomy in the groin area and buttoned down the centre of the body. But leggings or joggers had to be of a oversized harem style with lots of room to keep the legs open and frog like. No denim, dungarees or stiff fabrics.
Most tops however fitted over the harness the majority of the time, which saved us money in shopping. Phew!
Just follow the golden rule, if the leg position alters even a millimetre when you are dressing, try something else. There’s no point risking hip health to look good, especially when you’re making that decision on someone else’s behalf.
What about the specialised stores?
Marks and Spencer became my saviour when they launched their Easy Dressing Range, a fortnight before our harness was fitted back in 2019. In fact, I only ordered the collection in the hope it would mean we didn’t need it. That by some miracle the double nappies had worked! (spoiler, they didn’t- and you can read more about that here- Double Nappies to Pavlik Harness)
Our consultant and all the nurses couldn’t believe it when I dressed him immediately after the harness fitting-. Apparently they suggest most parents leave with baby wrapped solely in a blanket! I was delighted to hear that from then on they recommended parents invest in some pieces from this range, for when the time comes. The first in many changes in hip dysplasia care- I hope.
The Marks and Spencer collection features high cut vests, which is particularly helpful if you have to wear the harness directly on skin, plus sleepsuits and trousers, which popper the whole way from crotch to foot. All reasonably priced, true to size and super cute.
There is a great colour selection in Marks and Spencer vests and their specially designed pavlik harness trousers too.
This beautiful set of two sleepsuits for under £15 are my favourite! Marks and Spencer Sleepsuits.
More recently Next and John Lewis have also launched a hip dysplasia range, featuring stylish patterns, soft neutrals and pastel tones. Next also have short sleeved vests and roomy sleep bags- I’m really impressed with them both!
You can purchase these here- Next Hip Dysplasia Range and here John Lewis Hip Dysplasia Range.
You can also find some great options from Slumber Sac and Love to Dream who both specialise in clothes and sleep bags to fit over a Pavlik Harness, Rhino brace and Spica cast.
You can purchase them here- Slumber Sac Hip Dysplasia and here Love To Dream Hip Dysplasia
I’m based in the UK so all of these retailers are based here, but please do let me know if you find any retailers in your home country who supply hip healthy clothing for babies in a pavlik harness. You can contact me here- Contact me
Anything else?
My son wore his harness during the British Winter months, but had it been the summer, I’m sure we would of picked up some cute harness covers to make a feature of those white Velcro straps. If you’re business who makes these, please do get in touch!
I’m really hope this post helps anyone in the same position. I know how lonely it can feel entering a hip dysplasia treatment path and learning how to manage with a baby in a pavlik harness. I hope this post has helped you find ways to dress your baby in a pavlik harness, and as always please feel free to drop me a message if you have any question- Contact Me.
If you’ve found this helpful, I’d really appreciate it if you considered ‘Buying me a coffee’ to help with the website running costs. You can do so here- Buy Me A Coffee.
Much love,
Sian x
Thank you this is very helpful xx