Warning to parents about a common practice that harms their children

Health experts warn against a common practice that is harmful to children and that parents may overlook.

Young children can dislocate their elbows when they are lifted (or carried) by their arms, which can be a painful and distressing injury.

In early childhood, ligaments and bones are still developing, making the elbow joint more susceptible to partial dislocation.

Lifting a child by holding their arms is one of the main causes of elbow dislocation, as the sudden pull of the arm can cause the ligament to slip out of place. The painful injury can result from swinging the child by the arms, pulling on the hands, and even pulling on the wrists.

“Dislocated elbows are a very common injury in children, and usually occur when a child’s elbow is pulled or twisted, such as when a parent lifts them by the arms,” says Dr. Jennifer Lang, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Stanford Children’s Health.

Symptoms of a dislocated elbow include: immediate pain in the elbow, the child's refusal to move or use the affected arm, and visible swelling or bruising.

“A child’s elbow joint is simply more unstable than an adult’s,” says Evan Jeffries, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. “Suddenly pulling children by their arms can cause the ligament to slip out of place and partially dislocate the joint.”

“As a parent, your natural instinct is to quickly grab your child when they need you, but with a little mindfulness, you can keep them safe from this painful injury,” warns Jeffries.