Why Carrying Your Toddler on One Hip Can Trigger SI Joint Pain

If you are a parent who constantly carries a toddler on one side, you may have noticed an aching pain low in your back, into your buttock, or even down the back of your leg. Many parents assume it is just part of parenting, but that is not always the case. One common source of this kind of discomfort is irritation in the sacroiliac joint, often called the SI joint.

At Dr. Bruce Lowry’s office in Pleasant Grove, we often see parents from across Utah County dealing with pain that started gradually during everyday routines like lifting kids, holding them on one hip, loading strollers, and getting children in and out of car seats. When the stress is repeated day after day, the pelvis and lower back can begin to move poorly and become irritated.

What Is the SI Joint?

Your SI joints sit where the base of your spine connects to your pelvis. These joints help transfer weight and movement between your upper body and your legs. They are built for stability, but they still need to move in a small, controlled way. When one side becomes irritated or restricted, it can create pain with standing, walking, bending, rolling over in bed, or carrying a child.

Because toddler carrying often loads one side of the body more than the other, it can place uneven stress through the pelvis. Over time, that imbalance may contribute to SI joint irritation.

Why Carrying a Toddler on One Hip Causes Problems

Most parents do not carry their child evenly in front of them for long. It is much more natural to shift a child onto one hip while using the other arm to open doors, hold a bag, push a cart, or manage another child. The problem is that this position changes the mechanics of your whole body.

When you hold your toddler on one side, several things usually happen:

• Your pelvis tilts unevenly
• Your lower back compensates to keep you upright
• Your core muscles stop sharing the load well
• The muscles around one hip work much harder than the other
• You repeatedly twist while lifting, walking, and setting your child down

That combination can create ongoing strain around the SI joint, especially if your child is getting heavier and you are carrying them multiple times a day.

Common Signs the SI Joint May Be Involved

SI joint pain does not always feel exactly the same from person to person, but there are some common patterns. Parents often describe:

• Pain on one side of the low back
• A deep ache near the dimples of the lower back or upper buttock
• Pain that gets worse after carrying a child for a while
• Discomfort when standing up after sitting
• Pain when rolling over in bed
• A feeling that one hip or side of the pelvis is “off”
• Pain that may travel into the buttock or upper leg

Some people worry this means a disc problem or sciatica. Sometimes those conditions are involved, but sometimes the SI joint is the main issue. A proper evaluation helps sort that out.

Why This Is So Common for Busy Parents

Parenting creates a perfect storm for this kind of irritation. You may be lifting awkwardly from a crib, leaning into a car seat, carrying diaper bags, pushing a stroller on uneven sidewalks, and picking up toys from the floor all in the same day. If you are also not getting much rest, your body has less time to recover.

In Pleasant Grove and surrounding communities, many parents are balancing work, commuting, church activities, family outings, and active weekends. Even simple things like walking through the grocery store with a child on one hip can become enough repetition to aggravate the pelvis and lower back.

How Chiropractic Care May Help

When SI joint irritation is related to movement problems in the pelvis, lower back, or nearby joints, chiropractic care may help improve function and reduce stress in the area. The goal is not just to chase the pain, but to identify what is not moving well and what is being overloaded.

At our office, care begins with an evaluation to understand your symptoms, movement patterns, and daily habits. If your pain appears to be related to SI joint dysfunction or associated mechanical stress, treatment may include gentle chiropractic adjustments and recommendations tailored to your routine.

Many patients also benefit from practical guidance on how to reduce strain during normal parenting tasks, such as:

• Alternating sides when carrying your child
• Holding your child closer to the center of your body when possible
• Avoiding repeated twisting while lifting
• Using better positioning during car seat transfers
• Paying attention to how you stand when holding your child for long periods

Small changes can make a meaningful difference when they are repeated throughout the day.

When You Should Not Ignore the Pain

It is easy to put your own pain on the back burner when you are caring for a family. But if your symptoms are lingering, becoming more frequent, or making everyday tasks harder, it is worth getting checked. Pain that interferes with sleep, walking, carrying your child, or normal household activities should not simply be written off as part of parenting.

The earlier the underlying problem is identified, the easier it often is to address before compensation patterns get worse.

FAQ

Can SI joint pain feel like sciatica?

Yes. SI joint irritation can sometimes cause pain into the buttock or upper leg, which can feel similar to sciatic-type pain. That is one reason a proper exam is important.

Is it normal to have low back pain after carrying a toddler?

It is common, but that does not mean it is something you should ignore. Repeated one-sided carrying can create mechanical stress that may respond well to treatment.

Will I have to stop carrying my child completely?

Usually not. In many cases, the goal is to improve how your body is functioning and reduce unnecessary strain, not to tell you to avoid normal parenting.

Can chiropractic care help if the pain started gradually?

Yes. Many parents develop this kind of pain over time rather than from one specific injury. Gradual-onset pain is often related to repeated stress and movement dysfunction, which may respond well to chiropractic care.

Get Help for Persistent Pelvic or Low Back Pain

If carrying your toddler on one hip is leaving you with ongoing pain in your low back, buttock, or pelvis, it may be time to get it evaluated. Dr. Bruce Lowry provides chiropractic care in Pleasant Grove for patients from throughout Utah County who want clear answers and practical help. Contact our office to schedule an appointment and find out whether SI joint dysfunction may be contributing to your pain.