Lateral Cradling Preferences in Female Preschoolers

Abstract

Previous research has established the existence of a left-sided cradling preference in adult women which is independent of handedness.1 It has also been shown, contrary to Salk's hypothesis, that mother-neonate contact during the early post partum period is not critical for the emergence of the left-sided cradling preference because a leftward bias was evident in nulliparous women who were asked to cradle a doll.2 In order to throw further light on the origin of lateral cradling preferences, the present study examined cradling behavior and its relation to handedness in preschool girls.