The correct way to wear Pavlik sling 1, Pavlik sling general points it is best to let the child’s knees and thighs can be separated to let the hip joint point to the center of the child’s body. Try to avoid external forces to put the child’s legs together, but allow the child itself to bring both knees together. Keep the legs naturally apart in a large “V” shape, but do not force them apart. The Pavlik sling is designed to maintain your child’s hip in a specific position. The sling should not be removed at the beginning of treatment, and even if it is soiled, you should consult your doctor if it can be removed. The position of the sling should be checked weekly or biweekly by your doctor or nurse at the beginning of treatment and sometimes adjustments may be necessary. This will maintain the hip joint in the best position while the child is growing normally. ・Soft, lightweight clothing (preferably a T-shirt or tank top) can be worn under the sling. Sometimes the shoulder straps of the sling rub the neck, so you can put soft padding at the shoulder straps. ・Every day: Check the knees, groin and both sides of the neck for skin abrasions. ・Important: You should not undo the straps (3, 4, 7, 8), which are the straps that maintain hip flexion and abduction. When the hip joint becomes normal (which is possible in most cases), your doctor will begin to allow you to remove the sling at a specific time. ・2. How do I dress while wearing the Pavlik sling? Most infants can wear a onesie under the sling or a baby suit with a button underneath for easy diaper changes. It is recommended to wear a onesie with a collar, but you can also wear a regular onesie if the straps do not rub against the baby’s neck. Clothes should be as loose as possible around the legs. Tops When changing clothes it is important to unfasten only part of the sling at a time to keep the hip joint as properly positioned as possible. It is recommended to have more than one person to help with the first few changes. When changing the top: 1. Have the baby lie down and first loosen (do not take off) the chest strap with the Velcro in front. 2. Undo the shoulder straps (#1) and take the right upper arm out of the garment. 3.Take the clothes off the baby’s head and re-tie the shoulder straps (#1) 4.Unlock the shoulder straps (#2) and take off the old clothes. 5.Put on the new clothes from the left upper arm, over his/her head and re-tie the shoulder straps (#2) 6.Unlock the shoulder straps (#1), put the clothes over the right upper arm and re-tie the shoulder straps (#1) 7.Pass under the relaxed chest strap and straighten the clothes (Key point: the shoulder straps (#1) and (#2) should be tied on top of the baby’s top.) 8.Check that the two shoulder straps are located at the marked points (sometimes you need to readjust the straps) 9.Retighten the sternum strap, loosening it so that four fingers can be placed between the baby’s chest and the sternum strap. Socks Long socks can be worn under the leg straps of the Pavlik sling, which helps to avoid skin abrasion. To change socks: 1. Untie the straps in two places (#5) to take one leg out of the sling. 2.Put on new socks, put the leg back into the suspenders and fasten the straps at both places. 3. Do the same as above for the other leg (#6). It is best to wear cotton socks. Diapers Wear the diaper in the normal way but must be placed under the abduction strap (#3, 4, 7, 8). If the diaper is worn outside of the sling, urine will soak the sling. Urine may corrode the sling and cause it to fail. Do not allow him/her to stand up during diaper changes. How do I take off the Pavlik sling? 1. Place the baby on his/her back. 2. Remove the leg straps (#5, 6). 3. Remove the chest and shoulder straps (#1, 2). How to put on the Pavlik sling? 1.Spread the sling on a flat area. 2.Lay your child on his/her back so that his/her back is on the back half of the chest strap; 3.Fasten the front chest strap and shoulder straps according to the logo (#1, 2). 4. Finally, fasten the foot straps (#5, 6). When your child is not wearing a Pavlik sling ・When your child is not wearing a sling, encourage him/her to kick his/her legs. The ideal time to do this is when the baby is in the bath. ・If your child is allowed to take off the sling, swimming is great practice. Your doctor will suggest what activities can be done at the clinic. ・When your child is not in a sling, they should be allowed to move freely. Treat them like a normal child. All activities are allowed, but adults should avoid pushing or pulling on the child’s hip. ・When your child can remove the sling for 4 hours or more per day, wash the sling by hand in warm water or in the washing machine. Use non-irritating soap. If washing in the machine, wrap the sling in a pillowcase to prevent the buckle from damaging other clothing. If you dry the sling in a tumble dryer, you can also put the sling in a pillowcase or on a towel with a heat sink. Of course, the sun is best. When the treatment is over ・Because your child has worn the sling for a while, his/her development may be relatively delayed compared to other children. However, this is only temporary and he/she will catch up soon. ・As a precautionary measure, it is not recommended to use a baby walker or baby trampoline for 4 to 6 months after the end of hip dysplasia treatment because it is not good for hip development.