Will Your Baby be Left or Right Handed? Understanding Hand Dominance in Young Children
If you’ve ever noticed your baby reaching with one hand more than the other and thought, “I think she’s a lefty!”—you’re not alone. Many parents wonder early on which hand their child will favor. But the truth is, it’s completely normal for babies and toddlers to use both hands equally for quite a while. Hand dominance—also called handedness—doesn’t typically become clear until preschool age.
Let’s break down what hand dominance is, when it develops, what to watch for, and how you can support your child’s motor skills from the very beginning.
What Are Fine Motor Skills?
Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements we make with our hands and fingers—like picking up food, holding a spoon, stacking blocks, or turning the pages of a book. These skills are essential for everyday tasks like playing, dressing, feeding, and writing.
Before a child can master fine motor tasks, their body needs to be ready. That includes having strong shoulders, good core stability, and coordination between both hands.
What Is Bilateral Coordination?
Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both hands together to complete a task. This is a big part of everyday activities—even simple ones!
Here are some examples:
Holding a container with one hand while removing the lid with the other
Stabilizing paper with one hand while coloring with the other
Using one hand to hold a bowl while stirring with the other
Turning pages in a book
Good bilateral coordination helps children develop fine motor control, body awareness, and eventually hand dominance.
What Is Hand Dominance?
Hand dominance means consistently using one hand more than the other for skilled tasks. This hand becomes the “worker,” while the other supports or helps. Over time, having one strong, skilled hand helps kids build control and confidence with things like coloring, cutting, and feeding themselves.
About 85% of people are right-handed, less than 15% are left-handed (like me) and a very small number of people are truly ambidextrous (able to use both hands equally well), but this is rare.
When Should Hand Dominance Develop?
It’s normal and expected for infants and toddlers to use both hands equally as they explore the world. Here's what you can expect:
0–2 years: Babies and young toddlers use both hands. One hand might lead during a task, but they often switch back and forth.
2–3 years: A preference may begin to show up, but switching hands is still common and totally fine.
3–4 years: A hand preference may become more obvious, especially during tasks like feeding, drawing, or brushing teeth.
By age 5: Most children have a clearly established dominant hand and use it consistently for fine motor tasks.
Activities to Support Bilateral Coordination and Fine Motor Skills
You don’t need fancy toys to support your child’s development. Here are some easy, fun ways to help your infant or toddler build coordination and strengthen both hands:
Pop beads or large snap blocks – connect and pull apart using both hands
Stacking cups or rings – one hand stabilizes while the other stacks
Play dough – roll, squish, and press with both hands
Peeling stickers or painter’s tape off paper – a great fine motor and bilateral activity
Lacing toys or stringing large beads – one hand threads, the other holds
Opening and closing containers – encourages twisting, holding, and stabilizing
Tearing paper – great for strengthening small hand muscles
Clapping games – rhythm and timing help develop body awareness
Tummy time with toys placed across midline – encourages reaching with both arms
Books with flaps or textures – promote two-handed play and exploration
When to Be Concerned
Most of the time, children naturally develop a dominant hand over time. However, there are a few things to keep an eye on:
Strong hand preference before 18 months – may be a sign of one-sided weakness
Avoiding the use of one hand – especially if it’s consistent across activities
Switching hands while writing or drawing after age 4
Difficulty using both hands together – struggling with tasks like dressing or using scissors
Avoiding crossing midline – for example, only reaching to the right with the right hand
These can be signs that your child may benefit from an evaluation with a pediatric occupational therapist.
Final Thoughts
Remember, it's completely normal for young children to switch hands and use both sides equally during the early years. In fact, this back-and-forth is an important part of healthy development. Hand dominance usually becomes clear closer to age 4 and there's no rush to get there.
If you ever have questions or concerns about your child’s motor development, you're not alone. At bwellbaby, we work with families every day to support their child’s development in a positive, playful, and practical way.