United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Is it true that the baby will be dominant on their non-affected side? My neurologist said my child will definetly be left handed because he is ROBPI. If that is true, will switiching like that affect him mentally.?

Katie is a ROBPI as well but prefers to use her right hand as much as possible. However that happens to be very little function right now so she mostly switches to the left.

dominance doesn't change - which hand they use will change

Maia is in daily therapy now to strengthen her right had which is non-dominant and is delayed 27 months. She uses it when her left is not available but when her left is available and working (it comes and goes) she will opt for her left first.

so Maia is a lefty?
and a LOBPI?
Mary

My daughter is also ROBPI and uses her left hand for most everything because she just doesn't have the strength or deterity in her right arm/hand/fingers.
The right brain/left brain stuff is "hard wired" in, so to speak and I don't think it confuses the children because they are growing with it, but it may actually stimulate the non-dominant side of the brain..who knows!

Peggy

My son is 4 1/2 ROBPI and is left handed because of this. However, he does use both hands and plays tennis with both hands. He even learned how to swim. I try to get him to use both hands equally.

My 1 yr old is robpi and is definitely right-handed. It was obvious I think at about 6 months. We were told that sometimes children favor the injured side. I agree w/the earlier comment, they will be whatever hand dominance they were born to be reguardless of the injury, and will compensate as they need to.

Matthew is rbpi and is right dominant. He uses the right when he can. He will probably have to learn how to write with his left hand which may feel strange to him but he's been through a lot so far so hopefully it won't be a major issue for him.
Cindy

My son is LOBPI, and is right handed. His hand is very much affected though, so I don't see how he could use it even if he were "left-handed".

I am a 31 ROBPI and I am left handed. I have no idea if I was suppose to be that way or not. I know that there would have been no way I could have been right handed due to my injury.

I went to a doctor one time & he asked me what leg to I put in my pants first, what shoe do I put on? I looked at him like he was nuts. He said that your most likely to do things like that with your dominant side first. I really never noticed up until that point which leg I put in first or which shoe went on first.

Deanna