A Guide to Your Child’s Pavlik Harness

Aim of harness:

The hip is a ball and socket joint. Your child’s hip is unstable and underdeveloped. The aim of the harness is to hold the hip joint in a position which allows it to develop and stabilise.

How does the harness work?

The harness holds the hip in a position that allows the ball to mould the cup, deepening it and resulting in a stable hip.

Guide for Parents

• The Pavlik Harness will be applied in clinic and necessary adjustments made to the shoulder and leg straps to hold the hips in the best position for proper hip development.
• The harness must remain on the baby for 24 hours a day to achieve the best results.
• You may be allowed to remove the harness to bathe your baby at your consultant’s discretion.
• The harness is designed to allow the baby’s nappy to be changed without having to undo the harness.
• An appointment will be made for you to attend the Orthotic clinic in 2 weeks time. At this appointment the baby may be bathed in a controlled environment and the harness re-applied.
• Your baby will be scanned at 4 week intervals, when you may also see the Orthotist to have the harness checked.
• It is the Consultant’s decision as to when the harness may be worn at night time only. Usually this is only for a short period of time.

The Pavlik harness supplied is considered the most appropriate for your child’s condition. You may discuss alternative orthoses or treatments with the Orthotist, physiotherapist or your consultant.