During a well-baby exam on a 9-month-old, the parent asks if the baby will be left-handed. What should the clinician do?

• A. Explain that it is too soon to tell which hand the infant will prefer later.
• B. Teach the parent to encourage the infant to use both hands.
• C. Hand preference usually develops between 6 and 12 months.
• D. Perform a careful assessment of fine and gross motor skills.

Answer: (D)

At 9 months, how a child will ultimately choose a dominant hand isn’t decided yet, so the priority is to assess overall motor development rather than predict handedness. A careful evaluation of fine and gross motor skills provides objective data on whether milestones are on track and allows you to observe how the child uses both hands during play. You can look for gross milestones like sitting with or without support, reaching and transferring objects, and any spontaneous bimanual activities; and fine motor milestones such as grasp patterns and object manipulation. If those motors appear appropriate for age, you can reassure the family and plan ongoing monitoring, noting that a clear hand preference, if it develops, typically becomes more evident later in infancy or toddlerhood.