Handedness as a determinant of lateral bias in human functional cradling (2023)(onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Handedness as a determinant of lateral bias in human functional cradling (2023)
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/infa.12572
49 comments
As an aside, I noticed you refer to your wife as "the wife" rather than "my wife". I've noticed others talk like that as well. I wonder what the origins of that are.
It’s originally British and was slightly derogatory there: https://amp.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/oct/01/guardian...
When used in American English I think the derogatory aspect is no longer present but that’s my opinion
When used in American English I think the derogatory aspect is no longer present but that’s my opinion
Partly conditional avoidance of referring to her in a possessive manner, but mostly just subtle figure of speech when attempting to convey myself as being in a position of otherwise harmless (and often convenient) deference, perhaps influenced by an upbringing in a culture with strong matriarchal values.
When the child gets older and bigger, the thing that helps is not having to hold the head. So they get bigger, but you can put the kid on your hip and just hold them around the torso with your arm. So while they do get bigger, some of the issues goes away as they aren't as fragile.
A baby sling helps.
Lefty here as well, funny thing about my experience with two kids (now teenagers) was that I could get switch arms with no loss of functionality holding a baby. I credit this to living in right hand world. Most lefties I know are at least somewhat ambidextrous simply by fact of most things being built for, taught and learned from right-handed people.
I don't know about ambidextrous (being able to perform a skill with either hand), but all the lefties I know are cross-dominant to some variety.
For instance, I hold a pen, fork, soldering iron etc. with my left, but use a mouse with my right.
For instance, I hold a pen, fork, soldering iron etc. with my left, but use a mouse with my right.
You are correct and I have been using ambidextrous wrong for 40+ years. Never too old to learn something and I did today, so thank you!
Cross-Dominant
1. Mixed preference: A cross-dominant individual favors different hands, eyes, or feet for different tasks. For example, they might write with their right hand, eat with their left hand, and kick a ball with their left foot.
2. No clear dominant side: They lack a single, strongly dominant side of the body, leading to a mixed pattern across various activities.
3. Potential Challenges: Cross-dominance can sometimes be associated with minor difficulties in coordination or activities requiring single-sided precision.
Ambidextrous
1. Equal Skill: A truly ambidextrous individual can perform tasks with equal skill and control using either hand. This includes tasks that require fine motor skills, like writing.
2. Rarity: True ambidexterity is relatively uncommon.
3. Developed Skill: Often, ambidexterity is a learned ability and not an innate characteristic. People can train themselves to use both hands with near-equal proficiency.
In Summary:
Cross-dominant: Mixed hand/eye/foot preference for different tasks. Ambidextrous: Equal proficiency in using both hands for almost any task
Cross-Dominant
1. Mixed preference: A cross-dominant individual favors different hands, eyes, or feet for different tasks. For example, they might write with their right hand, eat with their left hand, and kick a ball with their left foot.
2. No clear dominant side: They lack a single, strongly dominant side of the body, leading to a mixed pattern across various activities.
3. Potential Challenges: Cross-dominance can sometimes be associated with minor difficulties in coordination or activities requiring single-sided precision.
Ambidextrous
1. Equal Skill: A truly ambidextrous individual can perform tasks with equal skill and control using either hand. This includes tasks that require fine motor skills, like writing.
2. Rarity: True ambidexterity is relatively uncommon.
3. Developed Skill: Often, ambidexterity is a learned ability and not an innate characteristic. People can train themselves to use both hands with near-equal proficiency.
In Summary:
Cross-dominant: Mixed hand/eye/foot preference for different tasks. Ambidextrous: Equal proficiency in using both hands for almost any task
Cross-dominant seems to imply a preference, whereas your original comment leaned more towards being forced to learn some skill or activity with your offhand.
I think learning to cut with scissors is one of the main ones for little kids, you can try to cut left handed with a "normal" right-handed pair of scissors, but seeing where you're cutting is just harder.
I think learning to cut with scissors is one of the main ones for little kids, you can try to cut left handed with a "normal" right-handed pair of scissors, but seeing where you're cutting is just harder.
I am right handed but I use phone almost exclusively by left hand (when I use only one hand to hold and operate phone, like reading HN now), I am using right hand only when two-thumb-writing (like now)
If the baby is anything like a cat they will have their own side bias to account for too
I just looked back at some photos to confirm that I cradled our daughter right-sided.
I'm right-handed, but do some other things left-handed too, like holding the knife in my left hand while eating. This has always seems much more logical to me, since the knife is a secondary tool. I hold the fork in my right hand regardless of if my left is holding a knife or not.
I also notice that when raking leaves, or mopping a floor, I can never make up my mind which handedness feels more comfortable, and just switch between them.
But I was very handed when it came to holding our daughter. Always her head on my right side, whether cradling or with her head on my shoulder. I didn't have a problem doing simple tasks with my free non-dominant (left) hand, but cradling a baby seemed too important a task to give to it!
I'm right-handed, but do some other things left-handed too, like holding the knife in my left hand while eating. This has always seems much more logical to me, since the knife is a secondary tool. I hold the fork in my right hand regardless of if my left is holding a knife or not.
I also notice that when raking leaves, or mopping a floor, I can never make up my mind which handedness feels more comfortable, and just switch between them.
But I was very handed when it came to holding our daughter. Always her head on my right side, whether cradling or with her head on my shoulder. I didn't have a problem doing simple tasks with my free non-dominant (left) hand, but cradling a baby seemed too important a task to give to it!
> the knife is a secondary tool
It is secondary overall, but during the act of cutting itself it is the primary tool — the fork merely holds the food in place. Thus the differing "European" and American etiquette standards for utensil-holding (maintain fork in left hand vs. switch when cutting).
("European" in quotes because it is not ubiquitous across Europe [1])
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette
What is most interesting to me is that we even have these arbitrary standards for social class judgement.
When I was in Europe I made myself surprisingly uncomfortable trying to emulate the utensil etiquette of the people I was eating with. It was doubly painful when we ate pizza, which I wanted to pick up, fold in half and eat with my hands.
It is secondary overall, but during the act of cutting itself it is the primary tool — the fork merely holds the food in place. Thus the differing "European" and American etiquette standards for utensil-holding (maintain fork in left hand vs. switch when cutting).
("European" in quotes because it is not ubiquitous across Europe [1])
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_utensil_etiquette
What is most interesting to me is that we even have these arbitrary standards for social class judgement.
When I was in Europe I made myself surprisingly uncomfortable trying to emulate the utensil etiquette of the people I was eating with. It was doubly painful when we ate pizza, which I wanted to pick up, fold in half and eat with my hands.
My read on the utensil thing is that basically keeping the fork in the left hand feels more "rushed" and therefore less delicate/dignified. I'm from the UK and my wife is American, and when I'm over there I do notice that if I forget to adapt my technique I sort of feel a little undignified in the way I eat, comparatively. It's interesting.
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Maybe doing the harder thing feels more dignified, because for me it's the other way.
> I hold the fork in my right hand regardless of if my left is holding a knife or not.
Same, unless I'm cutting roast beef with a kitchen knife where the knife is the primary utensil.
I think I could easily do the cutting with fork-left/knife-right, but as soon as I imagine the actual placing food into my mouth, I want my right hand.
Same, unless I'm cutting roast beef with a kitchen knife where the knife is the primary utensil.
I think I could easily do the cutting with fork-left/knife-right, but as soon as I imagine the actual placing food into my mouth, I want my right hand.
For fun, try switching the left and right mouse button actions, just give it a whirl, bizarrely I just took to it like water despite decades of muscle memory?!
It is because you are using your dominant hand. Try switching the mouse with your non-dominant hand.
I'm from that generation where they were just getting over trying to make left handing kids right handed. Now that I'm older I find myself doing all kind of weird things...
For example as a kid I had to use left handed scissors or I couldn't cut things, now I use right handed scissors in either hand. I switch my mouse to my right and left hand sometimes without thinking about it. My brain just transparently maps the right click to my left hand index finger. I throw with my right arm and shoot right handed, but when it comes to tool use I seem to be ambidextrous. This said, I can only write with my left hand.
For example as a kid I had to use left handed scissors or I couldn't cut things, now I use right handed scissors in either hand. I switch my mouse to my right and left hand sometimes without thinking about it. My brain just transparently maps the right click to my left hand index finger. I throw with my right arm and shoot right handed, but when it comes to tool use I seem to be ambidextrous. This said, I can only write with my left hand.
> I also notice that when raking leaves, or mopping a floor, I can never make up my mind which handedness feels more comfortable, and just switch between them.
I feel similarly. I think with a lot of these tasks, the stakes are low and the dominant hand can have an adequate effect in either placement.
On the other hand (ahem), I do not feel this way about shoveling snow. I have to use my dominant hand on the far end of a snow shovel because I can generate more power with more control that way (despite my right arm having less muscle -- per my other comment about my experience agreeing with this article, I hold my child with my left arm and now have more muscle on my left arm as a result). I think the aspect of being able to control the power feels more important because shoveling snow feels like, if I screw up the motion, I can potentially cause injury to myself.
I feel similarly. I think with a lot of these tasks, the stakes are low and the dominant hand can have an adequate effect in either placement.
On the other hand (ahem), I do not feel this way about shoveling snow. I have to use my dominant hand on the far end of a snow shovel because I can generate more power with more control that way (despite my right arm having less muscle -- per my other comment about my experience agreeing with this article, I hold my child with my left arm and now have more muscle on my left arm as a result). I think the aspect of being able to control the power feels more important because shoveling snow feels like, if I screw up the motion, I can potentially cause injury to myself.
I play hockey left handed, but do everything else right handed. Has always felt natural to me, I can't remember ever doing differently.
I'm a left handed kid that taught myself to use a fork with my left hand. But then my right handed sister taught me to cut with a knife also using my left hand, so now as an adult I keep on switching hands.
I don't understand the title, so I asked ChatGPT to rephrase it:
"How Being Right or Left-Handed Affects How We Hold Things"
"How Being Right or Left-Handed Affects How We Hold Things"
Not really that close, since the most important thing about the title is that it’s talking about cradling [babies].
This is a good example of how ChatGPT often gives answers that seem plausible but are incorrect.
This is a good example of how ChatGPT often gives answers that seem plausible but are incorrect.
Interesting how study titles might be a good way of determining reading levels.
I don’t know, that is a tortured title. I got what it is saying, but it is about as unclear as one can be for no good reason other than to try and sound smart and I wouldn’t judge someone’s reading level based on their ability to parse that. I guess you could say that equates to reading level, but I think it equates more with one’s familiarity with reading terrible academic papers. Which, yeah, I guess is a type of reading comprehension, but more of an exposure issue than anything else.
The paper itself is actually refreshingly clear and direct.
The paper itself is actually refreshingly clear and direct.
Specifically how we hold young children it seems?
That's better. But I post this comment knowing that ANY praise of ChatGPT and its ilk here guarantees downvotes. This is NOT a friendly venue for AI. And that's an understatement.
Commenting on the propensity of a comment to generate downvotes is also a great way to guarantee downvotes, especially if you're not providing much else to the discourse but a verbal upvote.
Discourse on rhetoric.
Discourse on rhetoric.
GP comment also just straight-up violates several parts of the guidelines.
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
I'm waiting...
I also hold my child with my left hand as I am right-handed. Obviously, it allows me to do more since my dominant hand is free for more complex tasks, as stated in the article.
I only thought about this recently because I had a 'test' on my body that determined my left arm had more muscle than my right arm, and the person administering the test asked if I am left-handed as a result of this. I couldn't figure out why this would happen, thought about it for a day and realized the common repetitive motion I do that might strengthen my left arm significantly is holding a 20+ lb child.
I only thought about this recently because I had a 'test' on my body that determined my left arm had more muscle than my right arm, and the person administering the test asked if I am left-handed as a result of this. I couldn't figure out why this would happen, thought about it for a day and realized the common repetitive motion I do that might strengthen my left arm significantly is holding a 20+ lb child.
I always heard that your dominant arm is usually weaker, because it is reserved for fine motor operations while your non-dominant arm bears load. Consider e.g. putting keys in a door while you carry groceries, etc.
I've just heard your mind is better able to recruit strength from the dominate side so your body doesn't need to brute force it with extra muscle.
My left pectoral is noticeably (to me) larger than my right dominate one. Not sure if that is the recruitment effect or if I somehow favor that side when lifting.
My left pectoral is noticeably (to me) larger than my right dominate one. Not sure if that is the recruitment effect or if I somehow favor that side when lifting.
Not what I've seen in strength training or among people doing physical labor (including my wife who used to be a carpenter).
I recently had an ultrasound done on both shoulders for reference. The doc said my dominant shoulder looked a lot worse
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Now. Does lateral bias in cradling determine handedness in infants as well?
This is what I thought the article was saying until I read it. But if most babies are cradled on the mothers left, that would lead to the babies left side being more interacted with by the mother. Since most sensory information is processed contralaterally you would think it would bias towards left-handedness by strengthening connections in the right brain which is clearly not the case.
However, smell (and taste, but I don't think that is relevant here) is processed ipsilaterally and vision/hearing have some ipsilateral processing so maybe I am wrong and it IS strengthening their left brain and leading to right handedness.
However, smell (and taste, but I don't think that is relevant here) is processed ipsilaterally and vision/hearing have some ipsilateral processing so maybe I am wrong and it IS strengthening their left brain and leading to right handedness.
Wouldn't that mean all/most siblings have the same handedness?
I think it would be pretty obvious that handedness would influence preference here. I suspect left handed people are just more comfortable using their right hand for every day tasks because many items are designed for right hand use.
I can't help but think that this is a very anticlimactic and obvious conclusion...
We had twins. Here's how I cradled them in crowded public places.
My arms are out, palms up. A baby lays face down across my forearm, head toward my outside elbow. My hand has a firm hold on the upper part of the inside leg, the other leg hangs to the outside.
It's a very secure hold. I can bring them into my chest if the sight of it failed to clear a path.
Oh and I didn't wear a watch.
My arms are out, palms up. A baby lays face down across my forearm, head toward my outside elbow. My hand has a firm hold on the upper part of the inside leg, the other leg hangs to the outside.
It's a very secure hold. I can bring them into my chest if the sight of it failed to clear a path.
Oh and I didn't wear a watch.
Makes sense. I tend to carry things in my left hand to leave my dominant right hand free for other tasks. And cradling an infant while trying to get other stuff done is very, very common.
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I wonder -- parents, when you're holding your toddler's hand, which do you generally use -- your secondary hand, or your primary hand?
The wife is right-handed whereas I'm left-handed, and we both currently prefer cradling with our non-dominant arm; my prevailing driver is head control (while standing), whereas hers is both head control and dexterity during feeding (while sitting).
Despite our daughter being just a month old and 9 lbs, the wife is already remarking that she's starting to get "heavy". As our child puts on more weight, I'm expecting to see the wife use her dominant arm more to cradle in certain scenarios, predicated by the baby's growth outpacing her arm strength buildup. In contrast, my non-dominant arm is notionally several times stronger than her dominant, so I suspect there will much fewer reasons for me to pivot as the child grows.
As an aside, I truly do find it strange that child weight doesn't appear to be taken into any meaningful consideration. I understand that an innovation out of Europe which spread like wildfire in the US are car seats with rotating carriages (delayed adoption speculatively due to safety regulations). Many years ago, a close friend was first exposed to them when renting a car while on vacation in Iceland; he claimed that the UX of moving his daughter in and out was such a "game changer" that he immediately ordered one upon return, and it was one of the first things he recommended when I was soliciting wisdom in the months before my child was born.