Wondering About Development

My son, now age 21 years old would act as if his right hand and arm were paralyzed. He would not use his right hand for anything. If he needed two hands it was usually left hand and mouth. Never right hand.
My oldest daughter (17 years old) was better. She would use her right only if she absolutely needed to. When her doctor asked her why she didn't use her right hand she said it was broken. Hahaha We asked her to explain and she said that the right hand doesn't work good enough. Both of my Lefty's are fine and have no motor skill delays.
What is really weird is watching a child who is ambidextrous. She is fine also but when she was young she needed something for both hands at all times. She even sucked both thumbs at the same time.

You may just want to go have him checked at OC Regional center just to put your mind at ease.

He may just prefer to crawl with a fist because it's more comfortable or convenient. My daughter crawled with one knee up for that reason.

My daughter is left handed and used mostly her left hand for quite some time but has just started using her right hand for more things. She's 6 is Sept. I've done a little reading about left handers and they do tend to be more ambidexterous than right handers.

It's good you're keeping your eye on things because there is so much you can do to strengthen his right hand now. Regional center has to respond to your request but put it in writing and things will go a lot faster, plus legally it gives them a date they have to evaluate him by. It is free to you and good to go now b/c it's available utill he is 3 and then the school district takes over. However, I've heard regional center is a far better option and much easier than going the school district route.

Good luck and have fun with your little leftie as I am sure you are!

My first child appeard to be using her left hand a lot more than her right to me and I metioned it to the ped, just wondering at what age that trait is developed. She told me it was unual to be seeing a distinct preference at 6 months and when I told her why I was asking (much the same things you are noticing) she had her evaluated by a PT. Turns out that her right arm muscles were tight, they thought most likely because she was a large baby and that side may have been cramped or pinned in position during my pregnancy. Without proper stretching it had just never improved. So I saw a PT with her three times and then continued the exercises at home for another 3 months, just stretching her before bed and in the am. She is a regular 8 year old righty now. So I would say ask again.

I think he's normal. My 17 month old did the same thing at that age. You can play a game with him by putting something in his dominant hand and then try to hand him something he wants in his other hand. Try to get him to grab with his right hand. If he is able to see something and grab something then he is normal. But if he can't grab something that he wants -then I would worry. It doesn't sound like that's the problem. He may just be concentrating on using one hand, but he is still a young baby and will switch to practicing with the other hand, or may always be left hand dominant.

First time moms always seem to hyper concentrate on something 'wrong'. My girlfriend did the same thing about her dd's head- she swore something was wrong with the shape forever, but she was totally fine. I worried about my 1st all the time and especially when she started walking I worried forever that she was pigeon-toed. She's fine.

And I am impressed that your baby is signing! I'm still trying to get my 17 month old to sign and she can't seem to get it like my first. But what I realize now is that all babies have different things they are good at, and signing just isn't one of them for my baby, even though she is super smart in other ways. Some people have good hand/eye coordination and others don't.
I wouldn't worry.

Dear A., If you are concerned that should be enough said. Mother's just know these things. I would ask for a referral(? don't know the military term or process)to a neurologist. There are programs like Baby Steps that assist in development. Also physical theraphy could be useful. I have a developmentally delayed child. The doctors kept dismissing my concerns. Who was right? I didn't want to be right, but I also knew that the earlier the better for intervention. Please make your concerns known. If you have to take copies of the responses with you, do it. Do whatever you have to do to make sure your son is "normal" in his development. Best of luck. Just because my child has a problem, it doesn't mean that yours does.

Yes, get it checked. Many states have free governmental services for children under the age of three with developmental delays. I would have your son evaluated. My daughter had a tilt to her head because her neck muscles were uneven from side to side. She had physical therapy and is a totally fine 5 year old. There might be some physical or neurological reason for his favoring one side, and it should be corrected sooner than later, if possible! Good luck. You are right to notice and act on these things. good for you and your son.

I would say if you don't feel right about it then get it checked. It may be nothing at all. It could just be that he is left handed, but what have you got to loose if that is the case. If that isn't the case then you need to know early. You have more to loose if you don't get it checked and it is a serious problem. Also, with you being in the military, tricare covers him so why not get it checked. Just my opinion.

You're right to be concerned... if you doctor does not respond to your inquiry with proper professionalism, seek a 2nd opinion. Also, to arm yourself with information, research it on the web. Instead of referring to the problem as 'left hand dominance,' maybe try searching this problem under a different search word, and see if other related things come up in the subject. It may or may not be a concern...but look into it anyway... it's always best to go with your mommy instinct. Good luck.
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

(You have a child that walks and talks and signs and is not even 1 year old - congratulations!).

I know, you know your baby best and sometimes moma's gut feeling can be right.

What I could find for you is:

http://www.babycenter.com/expert/baby/babydevelopment/671...

Best luck, L