3-Month-Old Baby – Left-Handed or Right-Handed?

[Rozzzeto]

Our son is 3 months and 22 days old, and we’ve noticed that he is significantly more active with his left hand—he prefers to suck on it and tends to stretch it upwards more often. He does the same with his right hand, but to a much lesser extent. Currently, when placed on his back, he is trying to roll over again to his left side. We found out that his great-grandmother was left-handed. Both of us, his parents, are right-handed, as are all his grandparents—except for his great-grandmother.

We took him to a neurologist, who told us that it’s too early to determine whether he is left-handed, and that this can only be confirmed after the age of two. The doctor did not find any other physiological concerns.

We would like to hear your thoughts: have you observed similar patterns in other children, and what is the likelihood that our child might be left-handed?

You took your 3 month old to a neurologist to ascertain this?

Why? It doesn’t matter.

Why does it matter? I’m the only one in my extended family who is left handed it isn’t necessarily a genetic trait.

You went to a neurologist to see if your 3 month old is left handed? That's mental.

I wouldn’t say it’s important at all. But to answer your question of an early preference - yes DC1 always favoured their left hand, becoming very obvious during weaning at 6 months.

DC2 is 3 and a half and still ambidextrous.

Quote “Studies have shown that left-handed individuals tend to have a more developed right brain hemisphere, which is associated with creativity and artistic abilities. This may explain why a significant number of artists, musicians, and writers are left-handed”

Doolally

Did the neurologist offer you an appointment also?

I imagine the neurologist was because you were worried about his health and a weakness on one side, maybe you mentioned left-handedness in the family and he rejected it?

I do think my babies tended to roll then same way and started feeding themselves with their right hand more than their left. From about a year they (my youngest anyway) was using both sides of his body quite evenly. By 2 my oldest definitely favourite her right side for drawing. At some point there's a developmental stage about crossing the body, coordinating both sides. I think crawling on a key to this. So possibly he's using one side because he's too young to use both together. I've heard it can be due to how they were curled up in the womb. I'd want to rule out right sided injury or condition if he really isn't using it very much.

DD always favoured her left hand, but it became especially noticeable when she started weaning and primarily used her left hand to reach for food and eat. She’s almost two now and uses her right hand a lot more than she used to so it’s still not clear. She will reach for pens with both hands. DH is a leftie and I’m a rightie. My dad is also a leftie and my brother is ambidextrous. I don’t know if genetics comes into it at all!

We took him to a neurologist

…why?

Why did you take him to a neurologist?

I'm lefthanded as was my mother and if you went to a medical professional to find out if your child is lefthanded I find that horrifying. I know that generations ago we were frowned on and in some places regarded with suspicion and even as recently the 70's teachers tried to force lefthanded children to write with their right hand but surely people have moved on from these practices. Leave your child to develop and use whichever hand is most comfortable for them. There is absolutely no need to know which is their dominant hand at a few months old.

3 months and 22 days old 😂😂😂

I am left-handed, both my parents and all my grandparents were right-handed. About 10% of the population is left-handed. We're not the only ape either, it has been observed in orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees.

Are you worried about it?

Please don’t get me wrong. The fact that he moves one arm more than the other could potentially indicate a neurological issue. It’s not just about being left- or right-handed. When the muscle tone in one arm is weaker, or if the muscles along one side of the spine are underdeveloped, it can affect the equal use of both arms.

She told us that she noticed one of his arms is simply stiffer, and it’s possible that we might not be moving it enough during daily activities, or that we might be carrying him in a way that leads him to associate that he shouldn't move that arm, turning it into a habit.

I'm not quite sure what I just read?? Why did you take your 3 month old to a Neurologist??
To answer your question One of my children had a preference for her left hand from an early age (cant honestly remember how early I noticed - she's 20 now) and she is left handed. My other child was ambidextrous to begin with - when we started giving her crayons etc at age about 2/3 she used both hands equally until after she started school but is now right handed. (shes 18)
HTH

DS is left-handed. We suspected from when we started weaning based on a slight preference that DS had for using his left hand. We weren’t 100% sure until he was 2 or so when it became more pronounced. Like you, there was one great grandmother who was left handed in the family but that was it.

It’s been 15 weeks. The baby is not going to have perfectly even use of their limbs yet.

Babies do often have a preference for one side or the other. There can be lots of reasons for this, the first of which is just being 15 weeks old.

How was the birth? Babies can sometimes have tension in their bodies from a long (or fast) birth where they were malpositioned etc, sometimes a C-section baby can have difficulty with neck and lower back activation because they didn't pass through the birth canal. I am massively simplifying all this because I am not an expert just someone with an interest.

But an osteopath who specialises in babies is probably a better port of call rather than a neurologist.

Also, be very careful of pathologizing your baby, because unnecessary intervention can be harmful. So much of having babies and children is just watching and waiting - I know it's hard when it's your first (is it your first?).

You have to much time on your hands, sorry 😂

WTF did you take your 3 month old( and 22 days) to see a neurologist? No wonder they didn’t find a problem. Left handedness isn’t a disability!!
FYI babies are often ambidextrous and yours wouldn’t even be able to point yet!
Relax or you’ll develop clinical anxiety

Potential neurological issues because his arm is stiffer?! He isn’t even in control of his limbs yet