Hi my 4 year old son has just started doing this as well. Were you able to find anything out as to what it might be? I took him to the Pediatrician and they said everything seems fine... Curious to see!

Thanks,
Christopher






***Edited*** Please do not put personal information in posts. You need to protect your identity. Your friendly mod-monkeygirl22.

Someone else in same boat - my 2.5 year old has started doing this again - he has been through two phases of it before but stopped just as fast as he started. This time, it worries me enough to try and find out more about it. I have several theories - my initial one last year was that he had somehow not outgrown the infantile reflex, but as he has totally normal finger function and dexterity, this can't be the answer. Second was a theory that maybe his nerve endings hurt or something, but again, no sign of pain or distress when he does use his fingers to do things. Then I considered that maybe he was just experimenting, seeing what it was like. This was sort of borne out by the fact that at same time he sometimes switches to eating with his left hand even though he is right handed - I thought it was probably experimental, trying to see if he could make himself ambidextrous. He's a very bright (gifted) little boy, and excellent with numbers etc. I'd be curious to know if your two kids are bright too as that might be the solution - that they get bored and just try something new for a while until they lose interest. As I have been at such a loss to explain it, I confess my final theory was that if it wasn't something neurological, then maybe in some past life he was crippled with arthritis and he's sort of forgotten that he has fingers again. It is frustrating to watch. If anyone has any success in finding out anything about this behaviour, please let me know!

I was hoping to find answers here too. My son is 2 and 1/2 and has recently started this. Holding his cup with closed fists. He seems to use his hands fine and doesn't seem to be in pain either. I guess after reading the other posts it seems like it might be something normal but concerning for parents that tend to worry, like myself. Thanks for the postings. ps My son seems to be very bright as well. Very good with counting, identifying letters, etc.

My son is 3 and he constantly has clenched fists. He usually doesn't try to pick things up with clenched fists, but whenever he is in his car seat, watching tv, being read to, or basically any time he is not using his hands--he is clenched tight!!! He is our third child and our other childen never did this. By all accounts, he is a happy, well developed, social little boy---it just seems so odd. I am guessing it is just a quirky personality trait.

my 2 year old also does this. he is very bright but always has his fists clenched when he is eating or inactive. he sometimes picks up objects with his fists or asks me to feed him so he doesn't have to open his hands. I have noticed when he is playing that if his hands are open as time goes on and he is playing his hands will curl up into a loose fist almost as though the muscles are to tight and they are pulling his hand shut when he relaxes. I will be taking him in to our pediatrician to have him checked next week. I'm glad to know I'm not alone with this. It has been worying me for several months.