My Baby Favors One Leg
The short answer
Babies should use both legs roughly equally when kicking, crawling, and eventually walking. If your baby consistently favors one leg or seems to avoid using the other, it is worth having your pediatrician take a look. The cause is often something simple and treatable, like a minor hip or muscle issue, but early evaluation helps ensure the best outcome.
By Age
What to expect by age
Young babies should kick both legs with roughly equal vigor and frequency. While it is normal for movements to look uncoordinated and asymmetric at times, a baby who consistently kicks one leg while the other stays still or moves much less may have a difference in tone or strength between the two sides. Also watch for uneven skin folds on the thighs, which can be a sign of hip dysplasia. Mention any consistent asymmetry to your pediatrician at your next visit.
As babies start to bear weight on their legs when held in a standing position and begin to push up from their tummies, both legs should participate. A baby who always tucks one leg under or avoids bearing weight on one side may have hip dysplasia, a difference in leg length, or asymmetric tone. Your pediatrician can check hip stability, leg lengths, and muscle tone in both legs and order imaging if needed.
Crawling and pulling to stand should involve both legs working together. A baby who "army crawls" dragging one leg, consistently leads with the same leg when crawling, or refuses to bear weight on one leg when standing may need evaluation. This is the age when hip dysplasia, if not previously detected, may become more apparent through movement asymmetry.
Once your baby starts walking, a limp or consistent avoidance of one leg is a clear signal to see your pediatrician. While new walkers normally have an unsteady gait, they should bear weight equally on both legs. A limp that persists, worsens, or is accompanied by pain, swelling, or refusal to walk requires prompt evaluation to rule out infection, fracture, or joint problems.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby occasionally kicks one leg more than the other but uses both legs actively throughout the day.
- Your new walker has a slightly uneven gait that is improving over days to weeks as they gain confidence.
- Your baby leads with the same leg when crawling but uses both legs for kicking and weight-bearing.
- Your baby had a recent vaccination in one leg and is temporarily favoring the other leg.
- Your baby consistently kicks only one leg or avoids bearing weight on one side.
- You notice uneven thigh skin folds or one leg that appears shorter than the other.
- Your crawling baby drags one leg or always tucks it under rather than using it to crawl.
- Your baby or toddler suddenly stops using one leg, refuses to bear weight, or seems to be in pain when moving that leg.
- Your baby has leg asymmetry accompanied by swelling, warmth, redness, or fever, which could indicate infection or injury.
Sources
Related Resources
Related Physical Concerns
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Curls Their Toes
Toe curling is very common in babies and is usually caused by the plantar grasp reflex, which is a normal newborn reflex that causes toes to curl when the sole of the foot is touched. This reflex typically fades by 9-12 months. Occasional toe curling during standing or walking is also normal as babies figure out their balance. Persistent, tight toe curling past 12 months may warrant a mention to your pediatrician.
My Baby Gets Hiccups a Lot
Hiccups are extremely common in babies, especially newborns, and are almost always completely harmless. They happen because your baby's diaphragm is still developing and gets a little jumpy when their tiny stomach fills up or air gets swallowed. Most babies outgrow frequent hiccupping by 6-9 months.
My Baby Has Jerky Movements
Newborns and young babies often have jerky, uncoordinated movements because their nervous systems are still developing. What looks like random flailing is actually your baby learning how their body works. These movements typically become smoother and more controlled by 3-4 months as motor skills mature.
Baby Not Bearing Weight on Arms
Bearing weight on the arms is a gradual skill that develops during the first 6 months. Babies first prop up on their forearms around 2 to 4 months, then progress to pushing up on extended arms by 5 to 6 months. Regular tummy time is the best way to build this strength, even if your baby protests at first.
Baby Not Bringing Hands to Midline
Bringing hands to midline - the center of the body - is an important early motor milestone that typically develops between 3 and 4 months. Before this, babies tend to keep their hands to their sides or near their face. Once midline play develops, you will see your baby clasping their hands together, reaching for toys with both hands, and bringing objects to their mouth. This skill lays the foundation for many later abilities like transferring objects between hands and self-feeding.