When your baby has hip dysplasia and just wants to be held 24/7, even walking to the letterbox can feel like a mission. For Maddi, mum to 16-month-old Sophia, life got a lot easier (and comfier) when she finally got her hands on the HipSurfer.

From long hospital days to everyday walks to daycare, here’s how the HipSurfer became her go-to parenting sidekick and why she tells every mum in her hip dysplasia support group about it.

Meet Maddi & Sophia
Maddi lives with her fiancé Todd, their daughter Sophia, and their dog Cleo. They’re a busy little crew who love park trips, dog walks, and chilled-out family hangs.

Sophia is 16 months old and proudly clingy. “She’s a mama’s girl,” Maddi says. “She loves to be held, sneak in cuddles, and will happily contact nap any day.”

Their Hip Dysplasia Journey
At just 3 months old, Sophia was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. “My world felt like it was crashing down,” Maddi says. “I felt like my body had failed her.”

Sophia was fitted with a Pavlik harness, which changed everything. “It was like having a newborn again. We had to relearn how to feed her, hold her, settle her, even change a nappy.”

After 3.5 months, Sophia graduated from the harness but two months later, she relapsed and was fitted with a Rhino brace. “She had just started crawling. It broke my heart. But she’s resilient. She learned to crawl in it the same day.”

Daycare, appointments, and daily life became a constant learning curve. “We had to teach daycare staff how to put her brace on. It was a lot. But we got through it.”

Maddi’s advice for other parents:

• Take it day by day. Seriously.

• Learn what’s actually hip-healthy (you’d be surprised)

• Join support groups (like the Hip Dysplasia Australia FB group)

• Normalize talking about it. It could help another parent

• And her personal pro tip? “Poo socks. Oversized socks over the Pavlik straps to save them from poop. You’re welcome.”

Why She Chose the HipSurfer
Maddi discovered the HipSurfer when Sophia was 11 months old. “I’d been eyeing it off for months, even before the brace,” she says. Traditional carriers weren’t working. Sophia would overheat, couldn’t see out, and Maddi’s body was paying the price.

“Walking to work without a carrier wasn’t an option. By the time I got there, my arms and back were wrecked. And Sophia hated the pram. It just wasn’t comfy for her brace.”

Maddi asked her specialist about the HipSurfer. “She said it was fine as long as Sophia’s hips stayed wide, which they did!”

Game-Changing Moments With the HipSurfer
Since getting it, Maddi hasn’t looked back. “My first walk to daycare with it, I actually felt regret… that I didn’t get it sooner.”

Here’s how it helps her most:

• Daycare drop-offs: “It’s fast, comfy, and no pram needed.”
  

• Sick days at home: “I can still get things done while holding her.”
  

• Shopping trips: “I stash it in the pram basket for easy swaps.”
  

• Nap time on the go: “She naps on me and I’m not dying with arm pain.”
  

• Hospital days: “Brace, floor, or carrier. Options matter when the day drags on.”
  
  

Sophia’s Take?
“She loves it. From the start, she’d reach her arms up with a big smile when I put it on,” Maddi says. “She cuddles in close and looks so content.”

They started using it at 11 months. “I just wish I had it earlier.”

Maddi’s Advice for Other Hip Dysplasia Parents

• Expect cranky adjustment days. They just want to be held.
  

• Protect your body too. “Use the HipSurfer so you’re not sore and exhausted on top of everything else.”
  

• Don’t wait. “I use mine every single day. It’s worth every cent.”

Want to Make Life a Bit Easier Too?
Whether your baby’s braced or just super clingy, the HipSurfer can give your arms, back, and brain a break.

👉 Shop the HipSurfer now because you deserve support too.

💬 Want to connect with Maddi or follow more of her journey?
 Find her on Instagram at @maddichristine