04/03/2026
The ligament around the radial head, near the elbow, continues to have laxity until around age 6. It’s important to try to avoid lifting little ones by their hand and wrists for this reason. The safest is to lift under their arms; however, if nursemaids elbow does happen, a follow up visit to the office can be helpful for pain management and diagnosis of your child.
It looks harmless. Lifting a child by their arms, swinging them for fun, or pulling them up quickly. But in young children, that movement can cause something called nursemaid’s elbow.
Their joints are still developing, and a sudden pull can cause a small bone in the elbow to slip out of place. It happens fast, and it hurts. A child might suddenly stop using their arm or hold it close to their body.
Most cases can be treated, but the moment itself can be scary for both the child and the parent.
It is a small reminder that even playful actions can have unintended effects when bodies are still growing.