DS favors right hand side

Since birth my ds has favoured his right hand side. We actually have to turn his head to look left, when he does he is fine for a few minutes, then turns to the right hand side again. We mentioned this to the pedi, but she said that if he is not arching while asleep he will outgrow it.

My sister said her son also favoured one side more than the other, but he is perfect now at 3 years of age.

Do I worry or not?

Thanks

 

i wouldn't necessarily "worry" yet.
is it easy to turn his head to the left or is it tight/resisted? is he moving his arms and legs equally left and right? as long as it looks like he is using both sides and it is easy to passively move him to the left, i wouldn't worry too much yet. I did read that to help with positioning/side preference you can put them down the opposite way in their crib, or if you have a mirror or one of those aquarium's in their crib, to switch which side it is on so that they are forced to turn the other way to see interesting things. I would think he would be starting to track things now, so when you are having play time, you could try to get him to follow a rattle or favorite toy to midline and the left.
if you start to feel really odd about it though or something just doens't feel right, you could always ask for a PT/OT evaluation. wouldn' hurt anything.

 

QUOTE(Mommydee @ Sep 25 2007, 01:18 PM) [snapback]422899[/snapback]
i wouldn't necessarily "worry" yet.
is it easy to turn his head to the left or is it tight/resisted? is he moving his arms and legs equally left and right? as long as it looks like he is using both sides and it is easy to passively move him to the left, i wouldn't worry too much yet. I did read that to help with positioning/side preference you can put them down the opposite way in their crib, or if you have a mirror or one of those aquarium's in their crib, to switch which side it is on so that they are forced to turn the other way to see interesting things. I would think he would be starting to track things now, so when you are having play time, you could try to get him to follow a rattle or favorite toy to midline and the left.
if you start to feel really odd about it though or something just doens't feel right, you could always ask for a PT/OT evaluation. wouldn' hurt anything.


What is a PT/OT evaluation?

Also, he only tracks half way & then turns back to the right. We have to turn his head to the left but he strongly want to turn back right. He is a very strong little boy.

 

physical therapy/occupational therapy

 

I thought one of my boys showed a hand preference around that age, and of course I'd read worrisome things about it on the internet. He has since developed totally normally, so I don't think I'd worry about it too much yet. We also had the same issue with looking to the right, so we just did everything we could to get him to look left (sleep positioner, mobile to the left, tummy time etc.). It all resolved by 4-5mo.

 

QUOTE(Denise&Twins @ Sep 25 2007, 06:39 PM) [snapback]422933[/snapback]
What is a PT/OT evaluation?

Also, he only tracks half way & then turns back to the right. We have to turn his head to the left but he strongly want to turn back right. He is a very strong little boy.


if that is the case, I would actually probably go ahead and ask my pedi for a PT and OT referral just to get him checked out. he might have some torticollis, which is common with babies and easily fixed with stretches (though lots of crying tend to accompany the stretches! they don't realize it is for their own good!). basically, because of the way the laid in the uterus, sometimes their muscles get tight on one side of the neck and it makes it hard to move all directions. I would guess that is all it is, especially if he is "strong" with fighting it, as they don't really have all that much strength yet at 3 mo! in the meantime, i would keep trying to place interesting items on his left side, turn him in the crib, maybe do some very gentle stretches where you hold his head exactly in midline, then very slowly try to rotate in small increments to the left for 30 second intervals or so, while keeping something entertaining on that side.
(I am a PT if you want to PM me with any questions about it or what to expect. i don't do peds, but do have some experience with it and see the kids walking through my area all the time!)
i'm sure he will be fine, but might as well get him checked out early since if that is what it is, it will be easier to stretch out now than later!
deanna

 

One of my boys was diagnosed with Torticollis at 6 weeks old. I would have your pediatrician look at him because we have been doing physical therapy since he was 10 weeks, and he is being fitted for a DOC band next week. Good Luck!!