Key takeaways: Babies usually use both hands in the first year. A consistent hand preference typically emerges later in toddlerhood and becomes clearer in the preschool years. A strong preference for one hand before about 12 to 18 months can sometimes signal weakness or a problem on the other side, such as cerebral palsy, and should be checked by a doctor.
Many parents wonder whether their baby will be left- or right-handed. Here’s what’s typical.
Typical Development
- First year: babies use both hands, switching freely.
- Toddler years: a preference may begin to show.
- Preschool years: handedness usually becomes more consistent.
From the author
From First Breath to First Birthday is my month-by-month guide to your baby’s first year, written as a NICU and postpartum nurse. My book follows your baby’s growth and development month by month, from the first hours after birth to the first birthday.
Why Early Preference Can Matter
If a baby consistently uses one hand and ignores or avoids using the other before about 12 to 18 months, it can be a sign of weakness, tightness, or reduced movement on the unused side. Possible causes include cerebral palsy, a brachial plexus injury from birth, or other conditions.
Signs to Mention to Your Doctor
- Always reaching with the same hand, even for toys on the other side.
- One hand often fisted after about 3 to 4 months.
- One arm or leg moving less or seeming stiffer.
- Crawling unevenly, dragging one side.
Don’t Force a Hand
There’s no need to train your baby to use one hand. Let handedness develop naturally.
Encouraging Both Hands
- Offer toys in the middle.
- Play games that use both hands, like clapping and banging toys together.
- Offer toys to each side.
The Bottom Line
Babies usually use both hands in the first year. A strong early preference should be checked, but most babies develop handedness naturally later on.
Want more support for your baby’s first year? My book, From First Breath to First Birthday, is available on Amazon.
Related Articles
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Developmental milestones: 8 to 12 months. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cerebral palsy: signs and symptoms. https://www.cdc.gov/cerebral-palsy
- Kliegman RM, St Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Elsevier; 2024.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
