Active Fetus, Active Toddler?

Does your baby's kicking inside predict his or her activity after birth? Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development studied the relationship between baby activity after birth and baby kicking during pregnancy. While there seemed to be only a slight link between highly active babies during pregnancy and later irritability and the acquisition of baby body skills, baby boys' activity during 36 weeks of pregnancy helped to predict boys who would be highly active at one year of age. On the other hand, highly active girls at 36 weeks were more likely to be calmer and more passive at age one. Surprisingly, highly active babies during pregnancy were more likely to be tolerant of having their activity restrained or limited when they reached one and two than less active babies during pregnancy.