I know this makes no difference whatsoever but...?

Question

I was just curious (and really bored right now).
If my baby, 6mo, mostly sucks his left thumb & reaches for things mostly with his left hand is it most likely that he will be left-handed? My husband was suppose to be left-handed, but a teacher forced him to write with his right hand & his mom did nothing to stop her. Now he's 37yo and can't even read his own handwriting. Wouldn't that affect the brain? Isn't the left hand controlled by the right side of the brain & vice-versa?
Thanks for answering & giving me something to read. Hope you're having a good night! :-)

Answer 1

The left side of the body is controlled by the right side of the brain and vice versa. Although children do not usually decide handedness until about the age they begin to feed themselves, it is more likely that your child will be left handed because he favors that hand and also because he has a genetic disposition for it, even if your husband was forced into using his right hand. By the way, it is no longer taught in schools that you must use one hand or the other.
Some interesting facts about people who are left handed - usally more creative and talented in arts and music, often have high IQ's, are more prone to illness and depression.

This came from my psychology textbook, I'm in my last year of college to become a psychologist.

Answer 2

I would say yes. My son started favoring his right hand around that age. Yes, I 've read that some peoples' hands are controlled by opposite brain sides, but mostly, it's a left brain thing. And if it were to be an oppsite, it would happen to left handed people more often. I don't think it would affect his brain, other than confusing him at the time. My husband, who is a leftie, had to re-learn how to write with his right hand after being injured in Iraq last year, and yes, it's very hard to read his writing now.

Answer 3

I think it's a definite possibility -- and it does make a difference. There are still some teachers out there trying to force lefties to be righties.

If possible, encourage the use of both hands. Being ambidextrous makes even more connections between the brain cells. But, don't force right-handedness to the extent that your son is stressed out.

(-: And if your husband really wants to try learning to write again with his left-hand, he should go for it. He has more (ahem) dexterity as an adult, and it's a matter of just setting some time aside every day (like 10 minutes) to practice. He might be amazed at what he can do in a month's time. Never too late to make new brain connections!

Me, I'm mostly a righty, but I swim left-handed, and many in my family show ambidexterity.

Answer 4

He might be left handed, but I suggest letting him do it, because my mom tried to make me right handed in Kindergarten ,and until sophomore year when I started to use my left hand, I could not read my handwiting, I had a hard time learning certain subjects, and I threw balls all retarded. Just makesure he has left handed stuff, like scissors, doors, ect. Because he could have a hard time using them otherwise. My husband and son are both left handed, as well, and think very differently, so yes, it does affect how you think. And the brain does control opposite side of the body, therefore trying to change his handedness might cause learning problems. Sounds like you've got yourself a unique little guy! Be creative and stuff, and good luck dear.

Answer 5

I am a lefty so I have been looking for it in my kids but from what I have read it can be up until 18 months before they really "decide". My son seemed to be left footed for the longest time but ended up eating and coloring (he is only 2) with his right hand. My daughter switches hands all of the time at 11 months. I do remember from a college psychology class that forcing handedness on a child can do them a disservice. It won't make them developmentally delayed but it reduces their dexterity in fine motor skills. There was something to do with math and reading skills too, but I took that class a long time ago, I would look it up.

Answer 6

My son used his left hand to reach and grab more often than his right as well. He did still use his right hand quite frequently though. I am right handed so in working with him I used the right hand unless I was facing him then we used his left hand. He was pretty much ambidextrous until his Kindergarten teacher told him to chose a hand and stick with it. He chose his left hand. And yes, his handwriting is horrible. My daughter also uses her left hand the majority of the time. And this time I try to be real careful to offer things to her right hand, but she prefers her left hand. Guess I will have two lefties.

Answer 7

it's not going to affect the brain but the right side of the brian controlls the left side and it is going the other way around. Your child might be left handed because your husband he was left handed.

Answer 8

There's always the possibility... our son did the same... now I catch him eating lot's with his right hand... so now is too young to decide if that's what he really is. Our son is now 13 months, and he rotates his hands a lot with toys, so I'm not sure what he'll turn out to be- my husband is a lefty and so is my brother.

Also- I remember my first grade teacher making the lefty kids write with their right hands! I'm glad they don't force that now-and yes, I do think that does affect their brains.

Answer 9

you could have a leftie, I've noticed my son eating with his left hand lately too. Anyways, I was also forced to be a rightie, my hand writing is finally legible 20 something years later. I'm still very artistic, very right brained according to a college test I did. So it's something that is instilled no matter what. My sister is a rightie and is the opposite of me.

Answer 10

When i was younger i was right handed but i saw my sister using her left hand and became a leftie. Nothing bad happened to me...i think im pretty normal....atleast i hope so! Anyways why wont it work the other way around?