• The infant might not move the affected arm as much as the uninjured arm.
• The infant may experience pain when moving the affected arm by grimacing or crying.
• Crackling under the skin at the collar bone area.
• Swelling over the affected collar bone

• A big baby
• A relatively narrow birth canal
• Difficult delivery
• Forceps delivery
  

Usually no cast or medication is required as the bone heals by itself. However, movement of the affected fracture is kept to a minimum to alleviate the pain.

How long does it take to heal?

Healing of the clavicle fracture in a newborn begins around two weeks and is completed in four weeks. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the infant moving the affected arm after two weeks. Good, painless arm movement and the formation of a bony lump at the fracture site are indicators of good healing. The lump usually disappears within four to six months.

How to swaddle your baby with clavicle fracture (e.g. right clavicle fracture)

Guide safety tips

1. Place the baby in the blanket on his back and flex the affected right elbow across his chest and gently hold it in place.

2. Pull the corner of the blanket from the affected side to wrap around the baby’s baby’s body and tuck it under his back on the opposite side. This helps to hold the baby's baby's affected arm in place across his chest.

3. Then fold up the bottom of the blanket over the baby’s feet before wrapping other side of the blanket across the baby’s body.

4. In the end, the entire upper body should be wrapped with the affected arm flexed in the 90 degree position and held securely to ensure minimal movement.