Strange behaviour for baby 2 months and 3 weeks

[Rozzzeto]

Hello, my baby is 2 months and 3 weeks old. I've noticed that the left hand is often in a fist and held forward/up. It sometimes happens with the right hand as well, but significantly more with the left. This occurs most often during playtime, but not exclusively. In your opinion, why does this happen, and should we consult a neurologist?

why do you think this is an issue?
sounds like baby is figuring out how to move and eventually grab things (fine and gross motor skill development)

Because he does it mostly with his left hand.

Maybe that’s because he’s left handed?

No one can diagnose over the internet
if you have concerns then speak to your GP / HV
thinking you have to see a neurologist feels like an over reaction
assuming you’re in the UK your child will have had regular checks and assuming all is well, I wouldn’t imagine anything you’re describing is a worry

Why on earth would you jump to a neuro referral? Rather than HV, GP or at the very top end of anxious paediatric physiotherapist.

Are you in the UK? It's not possible to go to a specialist directly here. You have to be referred via your GP.

Thank you very much. I'm from Bulgaria. Here we can go to any spcialist you want, because our GPs don' t pay much attention :(

I really wouldn't worry.

Next week your baby will be doing something else - they change so fast at this age.

I wouldn't waste your time / money on seeing anyone at this stage. Give it a month or 2 and if this habit seems to persist and it's holding him / her back - see a paediatrician, not a neurologist.

My daughter’s baby started doing similar at the same sort of age with both her arms/hands, one out to the front and one upwards. She seemed to do it when frustrated. They saw a paediatrician who said it was a type of stimming and they should distract her (they were already) and hopefully she would stop doing it. Paediatrician seemed to think it was a phase. My daughter had worried that it was a seizure of some type.

See a paediatrician if you’re worried.

Are you doing things with your hands to engage him during playtime (whatever that means with a 2 month old)? Babies almost always do things with their left hands first as they are mirroring you (I’m guessing you are probably right handed). If you are facing your baby, your right hand matches their left hand.

If it’s not just when you’re playing, it could be some remaining stiffness or poor range of motion in the shoulder and neck from in utero, I’d have them checked over by an osteopath. One of my dc had torticollis in the neck and two trips to an osteopath sorted it.

Why would you find the left hand odd? I had some that only ever reached for anything/had strong preference for left hand from birth. They turned out to be lefties. No idea how, as neither DH or I are, but it’s no problem.

I will never forget when my eldest started school and the teacher told me they used their left hand. Yes, because the are left handed. They asked if they could use their right hand. I said, no because they are left handed. They then asked if we could try and get them to use their right hand. At this point I was really confused as I thought it quite a simple concept that left handed folk use their left hands for activities. I must have looked at them as though they are mad, and said, no, because they are an leftie. All of mine use left foot prominently with football etc as well. It doesn’t hold anyone back. In fact, my lefties have all been the higher academic achievers, but that’s possibly just a coincidence.