Is it normal ...

for a baby to have a really strong preference for one leg?
I noticed a week or so ago that with all the kicking Alex does (a lot!) he is mostly kicking his right leg while his left leg just kind of lies there. I tried holding his right leg to see if he'll then kick the left instead and after a pause, he does. And he does move the left sometimes, just not nearly as much. I'm not sure if this is a new thing or if it just took me a while to notice it. I feel like I would've noticed it earlier so I'm guessing it's just in the past week or two. (And he doesn't seem to be in pain with the left or anything. I haven't noticed this with his hands, though maybe I should watch more carefully to make sure.)

I can call the pedi tomorrow but that's a whole day away. So I thought I'd ask on here: Anyone else's baby do this? Does it sound like a problem or just a phase?

Edited: If you want a visual, I noticed it too in this video, taken Wednesday when I was taking their 4-month pics. (Don't worry, I do buckle them into their bouncies if I'm not right there in between them. I just had the blankets on to have a solid background for pics.) Alex is the one on the left.

http://s446.photobucket.com/albums/qq189/c...nt=MVI_3301.flv

 

I wonder if he just feels more comfortable with that leg. KWIM? I would watch it for a bit and if you are really concerned, I would call the Ped. I am sure they can put your mind at ease. :hug:

 

It could just be that the muscles in that leg are stronger, but I see what you mean about him not really kicking his left leg. I think I would call the ped to be sure, most peds do but make sure they are checking his hips at his dr appt's, my dr takes the babes diaper off and lifts their thighs up and pushes down on their hips to check and make sure they are in alignment and not having any clicking problems or anything. :hug:

 

It's really weird you should ask this question lol Me and my Df were discussing our Dd Ruby just the other day! She does this too and Dh seems to think that she is "right footed" just like whether your right or left handed. I'm interested to see what others suggest as i didn't think this was the case with feet? Your boys are just lovely by the way!

 

Yeah, the pedi does check their hips at every appointment, including their 4-month appt they just had on May 4. (Unfortunately I didn't notice the leg thing till 2 days later! ) She didn't notice anything unusual at all besides their eczema (which we've been working on for weeks but it's persistent!).
Amber and Ruby's mum: That's interesting your DD does that, too! If I find out anything from my pedi I'll let you know. And thanks.

 

Just curious, was Alex was breech for any length of time during the pregnancy? I ask because our DD (Kelsey) was breech for pretty much the whole 3rd trimester and she favors one leg too. She had the follow up ultrasounds on her hips after birth but those came back normal after the second one. The breech position caused one hip to develop a little more slowly according to the first ultrasound so I'm wondering if that's why she's more active with one leg.

 

Ah, interesting. Yes, he was breech for part of it. And I do remember the pedi saying at the first appt that the boys both had "breech legs" but that it wasn't a concern and usually corrects itself before long.

 

Hmmm Ruby was breech too i wonder if this is what's causing it?

 

Now you got me wanting to watch my dd as she was breech for awhile too! lol