Have you ever noticed that parents often hold their babies in the left hand? Even if they are right-handed, they tend to choose their left hand while carrying their little ones. The reason behind this phenomenon is an interesting one.

The Science Behind Left-Handed Baby Holding

According to a study published in the journal Nature, the reason why parents favour holding their babies in the left hand is due to the lateralization of the brain. The brain is divided into two hemispheres – left and right.

The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body, and the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body.

Most people are right-handed, which means that their left hemisphere is dominant. This dominance extends to how they perceive emotions, language, and spatial relationships.

When it comes to holding a baby, the left hemisphere is responsible for processing emotional and social cues, which allows the parent to better connect with their child. So, by holding the baby in their left hand, the parent is better able to read the baby’s facial expressions and respond to their needs effectively.

A Cultural Reason for Left-Handed Baby Holding

Aside from the scientific reasons for why parents favour holding their babies in the left hand, there are also cultural reasons. In many cultures, including Indian culture, the left hand is considered unclean.

Therefore, people use their right hand for eating, shaking hands, and other activities that involve touching another person or object. The left hand is typically reserved for tasks such as cleaning after using the toilet or handling waste.

As a result, parents might instinctively choose to hold their babies in their left hand because they want to protect their little ones from accidental contact with anything that might be considered unclean.

The Benefits of Left-Handed Baby Holding

Aside from the cultural and scientific reasons for holding babies in the left hand, there are also practical benefits.

For example, when a parent holds a baby in their left hand, their right hand is free to perform other tasks, such as carrying a diaper bag, opening doors, or using their phone. Additionally, holding a baby in the left hand helps parents maintain better posture by evenly distributing the weight of the baby between their two arms. This can be especially important for parents who are experiencing back pain.

The Dangers of Holding Your Baby in the Same Arm All the Time

While there are many good reasons to hold your baby in your left hand, it’s important to remember that holding your baby in the same arm all the time can also be dangerous.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, holding a baby in the same arm all the time can lead to a condition known as positional plagiocephaly – a flat spot on the back of the baby’s head. This is because the pressure of the baby’s head against the parent’s arm can cause it to flatten over time. To avoid this condition, parents should switch the arm they use to hold their baby on a regular basis.

The Bottom Line

There are many reasons why parents favour holding their babies in the left hand.

From a scientific standpoint, the left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for processing social and emotional cues, which makes it easier for parents to connect with their children. From a cultural perspective, the left hand is often considered unclean in many cultures, and parents might instinctively choose to protect their little ones from any potential contamination.

There are also practical benefits to holding a baby in the left hand, such as being able to use the right hand to perform other tasks and maintaining better posture. However, it’s important to remember that holding your baby in the same arm all the time can be dangerous and lead to positional plagiocephaly.

So, make sure to switch arms regularly to avoid putting pressure on the back of your baby’s head and causing a flat spot.