Q: What is the doctor doing when he checks my baby’s hips?
A: For the first year or so of your baby’s life, the doctor will check her hip joints to make sure they are developing properly. This ball-and-socket joint can dislocate if it’s too shallow, so your doctor will order further tests if he feels or hears a “clunk” during the exam. Dislocation is more common in girls and often runs in families.