My Baby Has Difficulty Using Both Hands Together
The short answer
Bilateral coordination (using both hands together) develops gradually. Babies begin bringing hands to midline around 3-4 months and use both hands together for tasks like holding a bottle or banging objects by 7-9 months. If your baby consistently avoids using both hands together by 9-10 months, mention it to your pediatrician.
Parents everywhere have the same worry. You are doing the right thing by looking into it.
By Age
What to expect by age
Hands are often fisted and movements are not yet coordinated. Bringing hands to midline begins around 3 months. One-handed reaching is normal at this age.
Your baby should start bringing hands together at midline, grasping with both hands, and transferring objects from one hand to the other. If your baby does not bring hands to midline by 5 months, mention it to your doctor.
Bilateral hand use should be emerging clearly - holding a toy in one hand while reaching with the other, banging objects together, and clapping. If your baby only uses one hand and ignores the other, evaluation is recommended.
Complex bilateral hand tasks like pulling apart toys, holding a container while putting objects in, and feeding with one hand while stabilizing with the other should be developing. Persistent one-handed play warrants evaluation.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby is under 6 months and just beginning to use both hands.
- Your baby uses both hands but prefers one for certain tasks.
- Your baby is developing bilateral skills progressively.
- Your baby can bring hands to midline and clasp them together.
- Your baby is over 9 months and consistently ignores one hand.
- Your baby cannot bring hands to midline by 5 months.
- Your baby never uses both hands together for play.
- Your baby has lost use of one hand.
- Your baby's hand function is declining on one or both sides.
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
Worrying about your baby means you care. That is a good thing.
Related Physical Concerns
Baby Not Bringing Hands to Midline
Bringing hands to midline - the center of the body - is an important early motor milestone that typically develops between 3 and 4 months. Before this, babies tend to keep their hands to their sides or near their face. Once midline play develops, you will see your baby clasping their hands together, reaching for toys with both hands, and bringing objects to their mouth. This skill lays the foundation for many later abilities like transferring objects between hands and self-feeding.
Baby Not Using One Arm or Hand
If your baby consistently avoids using one arm or hand, it deserves evaluation. Before 18 months, babies should use both hands roughly equally - strong hand preference before this age can indicate a concern with the less-used side. Possible causes include brachial plexus injury (Erb's palsy) from birth, nursemaid's elbow, fracture, or neurological differences. Early identification leads to better outcomes with therapy.
My Baby Doesn't Cross Their Body Midline
Crossing the midline means reaching across the center of the body with one hand to the opposite side. This skill typically develops around 8-12 months and becomes more consistent by 18 months. If your baby always uses the closest hand rather than reaching across, it may indicate developmental delays in bilateral integration.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Only Army Crawls
Army crawling (also called commando crawling) is a completely valid and normal way for babies to move. Many babies army crawl for weeks or even months before transitioning to hands-and-knees crawling, and some skip hands-and-knees crawling entirely. What matters is that your baby is independently mobile and exploring their environment.
One Side of My Baby's Body Moves Differently
Babies should generally use both sides of their body equally. If one side consistently moves differently, is weaker, stiffer, or less coordinated, this warrants evaluation. Asymmetric movement can indicate hemiplegia (cerebral palsy affecting one side), brachial plexus injury, or other neurological conditions that benefit from early therapy.