Clicky Hips in Babies: What Parents Should Know

If you’ve noticed a soft click or pop from your baby’s hips during diaper changes, bath time, or when you move their legs, you’re in very good company. Most parents notice this at some point and immediately wonder whether it means something. Here’s the honest answer: most of the time, those clicks are completely harmless — the sound of developing ligaments and tendons moving over bony surfaces as a baby grows. But occasionally, a click in a newborn’s hip does signal something worth looking into. Knowing the difference matters.

What makes a baby’s hips click?

Babies’ joints are surrounded by loose ligaments and tendons — that looseness is a feature of newborn anatomy, not a flaw. It’s part of what allows them to be born. As those tendons and ligaments move over bony surfaces during leg movement, they sometimes make audible sounds: clicks, soft pops, or snapping sensations.

These sounds are most often noticed:

• During diaper changes when you lift and move the legs
• When bringing the knees toward the chest
• During bath time and dressing

In the majority of cases — particularly when the click doesn’t cause visible discomfort and the hips move freely in both directions — these sounds are benign. They’re a normal feature of a developing infant body with naturally lax joints.

When a click is worth a closer look: developmental dysplasia of the hip

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition where the ball of the hip joint doesn’t fit properly in the socket during development. It ranges from very mild (a hip that’s slightly loose) to more significant (a hip that sits partially or fully outside the socket). DDH affects roughly 1–3 out of every 1,000 babies to varying degrees, with girls and first-born children statistically at higher risk.

DDH doesn’t always produce a painful click — and not all hip clicks in babies are DDH. What a pediatrician or specialist looks for is whether the hip joint can be gently maneuvered out of position (a finding distinct from a harmless ligament snap). Signs that may point toward DDH:

• One hip appears to sit differently or higher than the other
• Leg folds (the creases in your baby’s thighs and buttocks) are noticeably asymmetrical
• One leg appears shorter than the other
• Limited range of motion in one hip compared to the other
• The hips don’t seem to open outward as easily on one side when your baby lies on their back

How DDH is screened

In the United States, DDH screening is part of the routine newborn examination. Pediatricians check hip stability at the newborn visit and at subsequent well-child checkups. When there’s uncertainty, ultrasound of the hips is ordered — ultrasound is preferred over X-ray in infants younger than 4–6 months because the hip bones are still mostly cartilage and don’t image well on X-ray.

When DDH is identified early — ideally in the first few months of life — it’s typically managed with a Pavlik harness, a soft brace that holds the hips in a position that encourages the socket to develop around the ball of the joint. The earlier it’s caught, the better the outcomes tend to be.

Other reasons hips click in babies

Outside of DDH, hip sounds in babies can come from:

• Normal ligament laxity — particularly in the first weeks after birth, when joints are still influenced by maternal hormones that made the pelvis flexible for delivery
• Tension through the hip and pelvis region from the baby’s position in the womb or from the birth process
• Compensatory patterns from torticollis — tension on one side of the neck or body that affects how the pelvis and hips sit

This last connection is something our team at Little Roots watches for when parents notice asymmetric hip sounds or movement alongside a neck preference or visible tension on one side of the body. Each child is different, and we take a personalized approach based on what your baby’s nervous system and musculoskeletal system are showing us.

What to do if you’re noticing clicky hips

If your baby’s hips click: bring it up at your next pediatric visit. That’s the right first step. Your pediatrician will check hip stability as part of the routine examination — if there’s any concern, they’ll refer for ultrasound.

Mention it sooner rather than later if you’re also noticing:

• Asymmetrical leg creases or hip positioning
• A visible difference in leg length
• Your baby seems uncomfortable when you open the hips during diaper changes
• Limited hip opening on one side compared to the other

Our team at Little Roots often sees parents of infants who want a second set of eyes on how their baby is moving and where any tension might be sitting in the pelvis and hips. A complimentary consultation is always a good starting place if you’re wondering whether there’s anything worth looking into more closely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal for a baby’s hips to click?

Soft clicks are very common in newborns and young infants and are usually harmless. However, because clicking can occasionally signal developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), it’s worth mentioning to your pediatrician at your routine visit so they can assess hip stability.

What is DDH in babies?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition where the hip joint doesn’t form or sit in position properly during development. It ranges from mild laxity to a dislocated hip. Early identification is important — when caught in the first months of life, it typically responds well to a soft positioning brace.

Does DDH cause pain in babies?

Not usually, which is one reason screening matters. Babies with DDH often appear comfortable and aren’t necessarily crying when their hips are moved. Parents may notice leg asymmetry or that one hip doesn’t open as easily as the other.

Can a chiropractor check for clicky hips in babies?

Chiropractors aren’t the primary provider for DDH diagnosis, which requires specific orthopedic maneuvers and ultrasound when indicated — that screening belongs with your pediatrician. Our team at Little Roots does evaluate how babies are moving, where there’s asymmetry or tension in the pelvis and hips, and what may be contributing to restricted movement in one direction, which can complement what your pediatrician is already doing.