Baby rib valgus

Infant rib valgus may be caused by the baby's bad living habits. First, parents can take their children to the hospital for examination to find out the cause of the rib valgus, and then receive treatment under the guidance of a doctor. If the baby's rib eversion is caused by illness, it is likely due to calcium deficiency in the baby. At this time, the baby should be supplemented with calcium in time and the baby should eat more calcium-rich foods.

Let the child lie flat, and the lowest rib will extend beyond the outer edge of the body, which is called rib valgus.

What should mothers do if they find that their baby's ribs are turned outward?

Don't worry, mothers. First of all, rib valgus can be corrected! Take your child to the doctor to determine the cause of rib valgus, and then prescribe the right medicine!

Causes of rib valgus in infants

Caused by rickets

Most cases of rib valgus in children are caused by rickets. Rickets: commonly known as calcium deficiency, is more common in infancy. It is a disease caused by vitamin D deficiency that causes calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorders in the body, resulting in poor bone calcification. Follow your doctor's advice and don't take supplements randomly!

Simple rib malformation

Since the two lowest ribs at the human sternum are not connected to the sternum, and babies under one year old mainly breathe abdominally, the abdomen moves with a large amplitude when exhaling and inhaling, so babies with softer ribs will experience rib valgus.

Incorrect posture for holding baby

The posture of holding the baby is incorrect. Generally speaking, rib eversion is not closely related to the posture of holding the baby.

However, maintaining the same posture for a long time can easily cause the baby's ribs to turn outward. In the orthopedic clinic of the hospital, some babies only have right-side hallux valgus. Upon closer questioning, it turns out that their parents are used to holding the baby with their right hand. The baby's left ribs are close to the adults and are more "compliant", but there is a problem on the right side.

The belt is too tight and long-term compression of rib development

The chest cage of infants and young children develops relatively slowly. Babies of this age often have a "big belly" and get bloated after drinking milk. In addition, their pants are tied tightly, which can easily lead to rib eversion.

If the valgus is caused by simple rib deformity or external force, and the child is healthy in other aspects, it will not affect his physical development. It is just unsightly and can be recovered as the child grows up.

If it is due to rickets, that is, calcium deficiency, it will affect the baby's bones, growth and development.

Correction methods for rib valgus:

First of all, the mother must take the baby to the hospital to see a doctor, find out the cause of the baby's rib eversion, prescribe the right medicine, and then provide care and correction.

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation

For rib valgus caused by rickets, you should follow the doctor's advice on the medication and dosage. Taking your baby out to sunbathe more often can also help supplement calcium.

Massage your baby regularly every day

Specific method: From the baby's sternum to the bottom of the abdomen, above the navel, along the ribs, use the palms of both hands to make a water-dividing motion and gently touch the baby's body. Be careful not to use too much force.

Do this two to three times a day, each time for about five minutes, to effectively correct rib valgus.

Change the way you hold your baby

Consciously change the holding position; don’t always hold the same position.

For babies aged 4-6 months, hold the baby facing forward, because the child's back is against the adult with support from the back and the front is supported by the hands or held by the hands in front. This disperses the force and does not cause particularly strong force to any one part of the child, which is less likely to cause bone deformities.

Encourage your child to do corrective exercises that help expand the chest and enhance breathing function.

Jogging exercise helps to enhance visceral activity, expand breathing volume, and improve chest hypoplasia.

How to prevent baby's rib valgus?

Mothers can prevent their babies' rib valgus. Here are some tips to prevent your baby from having rib valgus due to rickets.

Breastfeeding is encouraged, and infant complementary foods rich in vitamin D and with an appropriate ratio of calcium and phosphorus should be added in a timely manner.

Get more sun exposure, with an average daily outdoor activity time of more than one hour, and expose more skin.

For weak children or when outdoor activities are restricted in winter and spring, vitamin D can be supplemented, 400-800 international units per day. If the mother cannot calculate clearly, it is recommended to use the first and second methods to avoid excessive vitamin D poisoning.

Why supplement with vitamin D?

Vitamin D is the carrier for calcium to be absorbed by the bone marrow. Calcium tablets contain vitamin D, which can increase calcium absorption exponentially. Therefore, supplementing with vitamin D is very helpful for calcium to be absorbed by the bone marrow.