Every year in Canada, approximately 10,500 babies are born with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), a condition where the hip socket fails to form properly. Without treatment, DDH can lead to severe osteoarthritis and chronic pain later in life. Kamloops designer and mother Leah Saik understands this struggle firsthand, having experienced hip dysplasia herself and navigated treatment with both of her children. To address a gap in the market, she created Little Hippy Co., a clothing brand specifically designed to adapt to DDH treatment needs.
What is Little Hippy Co.?
Little Hippy Co. is a Canadian adaptive clothing brand designed for infants and children undergoing treatment for DDH. Saik explains, "As a mother who experienced hip dysplasia myself — and later navigated treatment with both of my children — I created the brand to solve a problem I lived with firsthand: the lack of functional, comfortable clothing in North America for babies in devices like the Pavlik harness, abduction braces or Spica casts." Beyond clothing, the brand focuses on education and advocacy. DDH affects approximately one to three per cent of all newborns, yet many families are unaware of key risk factors such as breech positioning, family history, or tight swaddling. Saik aims to support families with thoughtfully designed products while raising awareness for earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.
What Makes Little Hippy Co. Unique?
Little Hippy Co. combines lived experience, medical need, and thoughtful design. Each piece features extra-wide silhouettes, strategic openings, and soft fabrics that allow for proper hip positioning, easy diapering, and clinical access without disruption. Saik notes, "The brand was built by a mother, not a boardroom — created at my kitchen table out of a need to improve the day-to-day reality for families navigating a medical journey." All garments are proudly made in Canada, manufactured in Abbotsford, B.C., ensuring high quality and supporting local production. The brand also collaborates with clinicians and researchers, including partnerships with B.C. Children's Hospital, to ensure products are informed by both lived experience and medical insight. Additionally, Little Hippy Co. is one of the only Canadian retailers offering Love to Dream's hip-healthy sleep bags, providing families with trusted sleep solutions alongside treatment-specific apparel.
Feedback from Families and Healthcare Providers
The response to Little Hippy Co. has been overwhelmingly positive. Families often share that the clothing brings a sense of normalcy back to a very overwhelming time. Saik says, "Something as simple as being able to dress their baby safely can have a huge emotional impact." Healthcare providers have also given strong feedback, recognizing how the right clothing can support treatment compliance while easing stress for parents. One of the most consistent comments is that, for years, families have asked, "What do I dress my baby in during treatment?" — and now clinicians can confidently direct them to Little Hippy Co. as a trusted solution.
