Pavlik sling wearing method 1.Pavlik sling general point 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, even if it is soiled, and 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 grows 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 against the neck and can be padded with soft padding at the shoulder straps. Daily: Check your knees, groin and both sides of your 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 specific times. 2.How do I dress while wearing the Pavlik sling? Most babies can wear a onesie under the sling or a baby suit with a button underneath for diaper changes. It is recommended to wear a onesie with a collar, but a regular onesie can be worn 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 that more than one person help with the first few changes. 1. Have the baby lie down and first loosen (do not remove) the chest strap attached to the Velcro in front. 2.Unlock 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 (Point: The shoulder straps (#1) and (#2) should be tied on the top of the infant’s blouse.) 8.Check that the two shoulder straps are located at the marked points (sometimes the straps need to be readjusted) 9.Retighten the sternum strap 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 avoid skin abrasion. 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 inside 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. 3.How to take off the Pavlik sling? 1.Lay the baby on his/her back. 2.Remove the leg straps (#5, 6). 3.Remove the chest and shoulder straps (#1, 2). 4.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.Tighten the chest strap and shoulder straps in front according to the logo (#1, 2). 4. Finally, fasten the foot straps (#5, 6). 5.When your child is not wearing a Pavlik sling Encourage your child to kick his/her legs when he/she is not wearing a sling. The ideal time to do this is during a baby shower. If your child is allowed to take off the sling, swimming is a great exercise. Your doctor will advise you on what activities you can do in 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 joint. When your child can remove the sling for 4 or more hours a day, wash the sling by hand in warm water or in the washing machine. Use a non-irritating soap. If washing in the machine, wrap the sling in a pillowcase to avoid damaging other clothing with the buckle. 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 best is still the sun. 6.When the treatment is over Because your child has been wearing the sling for a while, it may have relatively slowed down his/her development compared to other children. But this is only temporary and he/she can catch up soon. As a precautionary measure, the use of infant walkers or baby trampolines is not recommended for 4 to 6 months after the end of hip dysplasia treatment, as it is not conducive to hip development.