When your baby has a broken collar bone (clavicle) at birth

A fracture of the collar bone is a common birth injury. It is caused by pressure on that area during birth. Although it sounds serious, collar bone fractures usually heal very quickly, often with no need for treatment.

Bones develop so rapidly in newborn babies, these fractures heal very quickly often within 7-10 days.
Here are some things that you can do to make your baby more comfortable and promote the healing process:

1. To decrease your baby’s discomfort, you want to decrease movement on the injured side. You can either swaddle your baby with the elbow bent across the chest or pin your baby’s shirtsleeve in this position.
2. Avoid picking up your baby under the arms on the injured side. Support your baby’s head, neck and back 
3. Avoid moving your baby’s arm up above shoulder level
4. When dressing your baby, dress the injured side first. Clothes that go over the head should be avoided if at all possible. Undress the injured side last.
5. Avoid laying your baby on the injured side
6. If you baby appears to be in pain, medication may be helpful. Please speak to your GP about this.
7. If decreased movement in the elbow, wrist, or hand persists, or if your baby continues to have pain, contact your GP.

Once your baby starts to move their arm themselves, let them move it as they feel comfortable and stop restricting arm movement through swaddling. Healing is usually excellent with no long-term problems. A bump may remain on the collar bone once the area of the break. This bump will slowly go away over time.