Not using left hand?

[marvelousmother]

Has anyone's baby or child ever done this? My baby is nearly 1 and doesn't use their left hand much 🧐 won't pick anything up with it? Doctors say they're just right handed but it's more than that. Being right handed doesn't mean you don't use the left hardly ever? Will I be right in thinking the HV will suggest physio?

By 'never uses left hand' how extreme do you mean? If they're banging something do they only use the right hand? Do they only point with right hand?

If it's just utensils/crayons then I'd agree that they're just right handed. If they really don't use their left hand for anything (saving, grabbing food, hitting stuff, pointing etc.) then perhaps there's something amiss.

Hi sorry! Yes I mean pretty much nothing I'd say doesn't use it much at all

Doesn't pick anything up with it, can it be changed by physio do you think?

Has that always been the case or is it a recent thing? My son had the same issue from birth (well, from the moment he started using his hands and arms at least)... It was because he had torticollis from his ventouse delivery. Did he (or she?) have torticollis? We have been going to physio since around 6 weeks old (he's 8 no the now) and it has worked wonders- I can't see a hand preference at all.now.

No she didn't have that, it's the same as you have described but no issues at birth can't really get my head around it!

It's always been like that since she was born

I would definitely push for a physio appointment and also a neurology appointment. We actually have an upcoming neurology appointment as a paediatrician thought he might have Erb's Palsy (worth a Google - and don't worry, it's not that serious!).
Sounds like there is definitely something going on though ... might be totally harmless but should definitely get checked out and I would push for urgent referrals. I would also threaten woth complaints as to why this wasn't picked up before, if you need to. I've found you often need to be bolshy to get the ball rolling with appointments and referrals (very sad but true). Make an appoitment with a HV or GP and refuse to leave until they have done an urgent referral for physio and neurologist. It may help if you bullet point your concerns on a piece of paper, and video the single use of the hand.

Then, once they have agreed to refer him, wait one week then call the hospital to ask for the number for those departments, and then keep calling until they have confirmed they have received the referral. If rhwy haven't, call the GP surgery back and complain. Ask hospital for a timeline in how long it will take to get an appointment scheduled and call up and nag if that deadline is missed. Then when you have an appointment, call up, express the urgency of the situation, explain that you've put in a complaint to NHS England, and keep badgering them to make the appointment sooner (ie they can find you a cancellation slot). It's horrible having to act like that but I've shaved off months of waiting time for my son's referral appointments by doing this.

There you go. This is what paediatrician thought my son might have. They usually regain full use of arm so if it is this please don't panic!! I was so freaked out when i realised my boy had torticollis but he is doing great now and you would never kmow he used to have issues! orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/erbs-palsy-brachial-plexus-birth-palsy

@surreygirl1987 I just saw the photo on that link and luckily her arm isn't like that, she can move her arm around and stretch it, but won't pick anything up not even a toy and when you try get her too she clenches her hand. This has resulted in crawling not happening as she won't use the hand to support herself, I'm definitely going push for appointments etc. It'll be on her records when I mentioned it a while ago for me to be told "she's right handed" but I know that is not the case

I agree that it definitely sounds more serious since your update OP, especially that she's avoiding crawling so as not to use that arm to support her weight.

Do her arms look different in anyway? Like muscle mass/length of her fingers? How does she respond emotionally when you encourage the use of her left hand? I.e does she get annoyed or is she unfazed? Sorry for all the Qs!

How soon is your one year review? If it's months away then I'd be back to the GP. A few weeks and I'd wait u TIL then to discuss with HV which will hopefully give you more clout to take back to the GP if needs be.

@FlatPackPat hi sorry I didn't see this! And I'd say her left hand is a bit smaller than her right with her fingers, I can see a difference and that's because she isn't using it like she does with the right. And she will have her hand opened normally not clenched if you don't point it out but if you try to get her to hold something she clenches it most times and tries to pull away from you. Her next assessment is July the 2nd I think

There's a question about hand preference on the 10month questionnaire. Didn't they seemed concerned then?! I can't believe the health professionals have been so lax. It might not be anything serious but DEFINITELY needs looking into. I wouldn't want to wait til 2nd July... I'd be on the phone tomorrow hassling for an urgent appointment.

Yeah they've asked that! I've put she prefers the right and is basically not holding anything with the left. Don't get me wrong it's not like she never moves her arm but the fact she never holds anything and only plays with toys etc with the right isn't just "favouriting" and i tried ringing all day today and got no where!!! I had to give up as I couldn't sit on the phone all day

I could take a photo in a minute of her hands and someone can tell me on here I'm not the only one who sees a difference because of it?

I would bypass HV, see GP, and ask for referral to paediatrician. There are a number of possible reasons and a good paediatrician will know who best to refer on to. Babies shouldn’t be left or right handed tbh. Does she have any other physical issues - was she slow to sit or roll for example? Does she roll only in one direction? Anything else you’ve noticed?

In the meantime, anything you can do to encourage use of that hand and arm is good - although sounds like she won’t be keen! Also any stretching of that arm/fingers you can do without distressing her.

I would definitely get the GP to do a referral to a paediatrician. We have had a similar thing with our 16 month old. We noticed her hand first at six months but then also we realised her leg on the same side was weaker too. We were eventually referred and started physio and have recently had an MRI scan of her brain. Still waiting for an official diagnosis but it looks like it is something called Hemiplegia in her case. Not saying that's what is at play here at all but it's worth getting it checked out.

Yeah I'm going to do that today and I'll keep ringing until they give me one. U can see her hands the first picture is her right and the second is her left

Honestly I can't see a difference but it's hard to tell from a picture. My daughter keeps her right hand in a fist and it's quite a bit tighter than the left arm and can be very stiff. When she does use her hand on the right it's more claw like. I hope you get seen soon but try to not worry too much in the mean time.

@boomboom1234 can u see the difference with her nails at all?x

Yes that sounds like my daughter expect she never ever picks anything up or uses it to play just strange and want to know why

I would ask your GP for an urgent referral to a paediatric doctor. Best to get it checked out. Can she weight bear? Is she crawling?

I can see a difference in the nails.
You’ll get her seen and I’m sure it can be worked on with physio etc.

She won't crawl as she won't use the hand unfortunately and yeah I'm definitely going to ask I have a appointment at the doctors on Monday luckily. I won't leave until I have a referral.

How did you get on at the doctors marvelous?

Any update OP?