DDH in Babies: Signs Every Parent Should Know, and What to Do Next
Most parents notice something small first. A clicky hip during a nappy change. One leg that doesn't seem to open out as far as the other. A thigh crease that looks deeper on one side. Usually these things are nothing to worry about — but they are worth knowing about, because June is International Hip Dysplasia Awareness Month and DDH is more common than many families realise.
This guide walks through what DDH is, the signs worth watching at different ages, and who to speak to if something seems off. The goal is to help you feel confident about your child's hips — and to know when a quick check makes sense.
What is DDH?
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint. The top of the thigh bone forms the ball, and a cup-shaped part of the pelvis forms the socket. In a typically developing hip, the ball sits snugly in the socket and the two grow together into a stable joint.
In DDH, that ball-and-socket relationship is off. The socket may be a little shallow, or the ball may sit loosely and slip partly or fully out of place. It can affect one hip or both. Some babies are born with it; in others it develops over the first weeks or months. DDH is fairly common, and when picked up early, it can usually be managed with straightforward, non-surgical options.
Which Babies Are at Higher Risk?
DDH can occur in any baby, including those with no risk factors at all. A few things are associated with a higher chance of it, though — and knowing them helps you and your GP decide whether a closer look is worthwhile:
Girls are affected more commonly than boys.
Breech position in the womb, particularly in the later part of pregnancy.
A family history of hip dysplasia in a parent or sibling.
Being a first-born baby, where space in the womb is often tighter.
Swaddling that holds the legs straight and pressed together, rather than allowing the hips to bend and spread.
One or more of these risk factors doesn't mean DDH is present. It means a hip check is a sensible step — and one your GP or maternal and child health (MCH) nurse will often arrange as part of routine baby reviews.
Signs to Watch for in Babies
In the early months, DDH usually causes no pain and your baby will seem perfectly content — which is exactly why the physical signs matter. During nappy changes and floor play, you might notice:
Thigh or buttock skin creases that look uneven from one side to the other.
A clicking or clunking feeling in the hip when you move your baby's legs. (A soft, painless click is often harmless, but it's worth mentioning to your GP or MCH nurse.)
One knee sitting lower than the other when you bend both legs up with feet flat.
One hip thaSigns to Watch for in Babies
t doesn't open out to the side as far as the other when you gently spread the legs.
Your baby tending to kick or move one leg less freely than the other.
A single sign on its own is often not a problem, and many settle as your baby grows. But they're easy to check — and an early look is far simpler than a later one.
Signs in Toddlers and New Walkers
When DDH hasn't been picked up in the baby stage, it can show up once a child starts standing and walking. Things you might notice include:
A limp, or an uneven walking pattern.
Toe-walking on one side only.
A waddling gait — this can be a sign when both hips are involved.
Reluctance to put weight through one leg, or a clear preference for the other.
Toddlers vary enormously in how and when they walk, so these signs don't automatically mean DDH. They're worth raising with your GP or a physiotherapist so the cause can be worked out.
Why Picking It Up Early Matters
A baby's hip socket is still forming in the first months of life, and it shapes itself partly in response to the ball sitting where it should. When the joint is positioned well early on, it has the best chance to develop into a stable hip.
Detected early, DDH can often be managed with positioning and a soft brace or harness rather than surgery. Picked up later, treatment tends to be more involved. None of that is a reason to panic if you have concerns now — it's why a timely check is helpful, and why hip reviews are built into routine baby health visits here in Melbourne.
What a Physiotherapy Assessment Looks Like at FSTS
If you bring your child to First Step Therapy Services with a hip concern, the visit is unhurried and family-friendly. A physiotherapist will ask about your pregnancy, birth and family history, and about anything you've noticed at home.
The physical check is gentle. Your physio looks at how the hips and legs move, compares both sides, watches your child move or walk where that's relevant, and feels for any difference in hip stability or range. The aim is to build a clear picture and decide together on sensible next steps.
Physiotherapists don't perform hip ultrasounds or X-rays. Where imaging or a specialist opinion is needed, we'll explain why and help arrange a referral through your GP. Working alongside your GP, MCH nurse and, when needed, a paediatric specialist is part of how we support families at our Clayton South and Heidelberg clinics.
How Paediatric Physiotherapy Can Support Children with DDH
The right support depends on your child's age and the type of DDH, and any treatment plan is guided by your medical team. Within that, paediatric physiotherapy may help in several ways:
Positioning and handling — practical guidance on carrying, settling, nappy changes and hip-healthy swaddling that lets the hips bend and spread.
Support during brace or harness care — help with keeping your baby comfortable in a brace, and with managing skin care and daily routines.
Keeping milestones on track — ideas to encourage tummy time, head control, rolling and other movement skills, adapted to work around a brace where one is being worn.
Hydrotherapy and movement programs — gentle water-based or land-based activities to support strength and movement as your child grows, where appropriate.
Family education — time to answer your questions and help you feel confident caring for your child day to day.
Outcomes vary from child to child. A physiotherapist can talk you through what therapy generally aims to support in your child's specific situation.
When to Call Your GP, MCH Nurse or Physiotherapist
It's reasonable to seek advice any time you have a hip concern. Consider getting in touch if you notice:
Uneven thigh or buttock creases, or a clicking or clunking hip.
One leg that opens out less than the other, or one knee that sits lower when the legs are bent.
A limp, toe-walking on one side, a waddling gait, or reluctance to weight-bear once your child is standing or walking.
Any risk factors — breech position, family history, or a first-born girl — where hips haven't yet been checked.
Your GP or MCH nurse can examine your child's hips and arrange imaging or a referral if needed. A physiotherapist can assess movement and help you work out what to do next.
How FSTS Can Help
If you've noticed something about your child's hips, or your child has a risk factor you'd like a physio to take a look at, our team is here! First Step Therapy Services offers paediatric physiotherapy assessments at our Clayton South and Heidelberg clinics. We're happy to work with your GP and MCH nurse to make sure your child has the right people around them!
Looking for early intervention support? Learn more about our Early Intervention Services or explore how NDIS Funding can support your child's therapy.
Ready to take the next step for your child?
in Clayton South or Heidelberg today!
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