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?

Honestly, I read her first message and didn't assume she took her child to the neurologist to see if he was left handed. I suggested it was to rule out something else, then she said the same thing on her second message. People are just dumb and like to comment nasty comments.

OP, in English writing it’s normal to lead with the most important point, not build up to it slowly. So a better title would be ´Neurological issue or just left handedness? Is 3 months old too soon to tell?’ Then in the first paragraph you lead with the worry about weakness in the right side, not the idea of left handedness. People are confused because to English speakers the way you’ve written it makes it sound like the idea of your baby being left-handed is possibly a cause for concern, or is super important or interesting, and is the reason why you went to a neurologist.

Op. Inadvertently made clickbait. I don't think it's a language issue though so just a not practiced in social media, understanding headlines.

It absolutely could be a language issue. Differences between languages don’t stop at word or sentence level. There can be differences in how texts are typically constructed or rules of politeness governing what is said directly and what is implied but unsaid that can absolutely cause comprehension issues for foreign language learners.

I think genetics do come in to it. I'm right handed as is my brother, but our father is a leftie and so is one of his brothers.

My brother's eldest used her left had more dominantly from when she could first grasp things. She is still a leftie as an adult.

I have two left handed cousins too. Although I am right handed I can do things left handed. When I brush my teeth I move the toothbrush between hands so my right hand to clean the left side and vice versa.

I taught myself to crochet left handed so that I could teach my left handed cousin.

These bits from the OP (along with the title) led people to respond as they did:

We found out that his great-grandmother was left-handed

We took him to a neurologist, who told us that it’s too early to determine whether he is left-handed

what is the likelihood that our child might be left-handed?

Importantly The doctor did not find any other physiological concerns.

So people are not dumb. She did indeed go on to explain in subsequent messages.

I think you have anxiety tbh. You can’t tell that early and it doesn’t matter anyway. I’m left handed but neither of my parents or any siblings or any grandparents were. Of my 2 DC one is left handed, although wasn’t clear till he was about 3.5.

Honestly as a doctor on the thread and several people pointed out showing a hand dominance as an infant can be a symptom of something. A paediatric physio is the person to go to as they will be able to test the range of movements and work with you on it. They will also be able to flag up if it needs any scans or tests beyond physio. If it is nothing then you will know for sure. I was initially dismissed by my gp as she was still using her weak side and only got referrals when I went to a physio and shared the notes with my gp. Then she got assessed by a team of physios who found weakness in her hip and leg too and had a year of physio. Ignore the bullies on the thread, mothers do have an instinct and none of us have met your baby so we can not say it does or doesn’t have issues.

This is batshit. First of all, why does it matter? Second, I very much doubt you can tell at that age. Third, people are waiting months to see neurologists for actual real problems like potential brain tumours and neurological diseases and you are wasting their time with this?

Are you okay? Are you capable of calculating 2+2? There are pediatricians who specialize in neurology. Do we really have to wait until it becomes obvious that something is wrong with a child before taking them to a doctor? At the first sign of suspicious symptoms, a consultation should be sought. When scheduling an appointment, the reason is always clarified—this is how patients are prioritized. I’d be happy to consult anyone interested, to help them figure out how to connect the dots. I don’t blame you for not having read all the posts—there are many—but in that case, please don’t make pointless comments.

I understand why you are asking this @Rozzzeto, you are getting an unnecessarily hard time here I think.

Two of my 3 children are lefties. One used left and right with a slight preference for left until age of about 3 when there was a clear dominance of left.

Other one had a very left dominance from the start- grabbing things, batting them away, waving, eating, kicking- almost always preferred the left right from the moment he realised he had hands. He is now 10 and highly sought after in his friend group for playing football because of his strong left footed kick :) No neurological issues.

Congratulations on your new baby :) When they were the same age as yours, I spent ages wondering about who my babies would be when they were older. Such a fun aspect of motherhood.

Ds was totally left handed until he was 2, even kicked a ball with his left foot. Suddenly switched almost over night.

That's interesting, I'd heard the same - it just annoys me that my brain didn't get the memo 😆 (I'm a lefty and the least creative person I know).

Why is this attitude still prevalent?

I took my son to a cranial osteopath when he was only weeks old in the hope it would help his colic. She told me she could tell his left side was stronger and that he was left handed. She wasn't wrong. He is 16 now and definitely left handed, so it must be something you can tell from birth if you know what to look for.

Could it be torticolis (not sure on spelling) essentially it’s a spasm in their neck that prevents them turning head one way and in turn favouring one hand.

I would suggest visiting an osteopath

Well this is obviously a bit silly isn’t it. Anyway, my 1st has always shown a preference for her left hand. I can’t remember noticing before weaning though. But from weaning onwards it’s always been clear. She’s at school now and is definitely left handed.

As soon as our daughter started to reach for things, she only used her left hand to do so. She is left handed and in dance class or taekwondo will always start on her left foot.