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There's a special reason why most mums carry their babies on their left hand side
Mothers tend to favour their left hand side when it comes to carrying their kids. Here's why
Have you ever noticed how most mums carry their babies on their left hand side?
Bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, dragging, cuddling and soothing - mums' arms do a lot.
Much like ants can carry up to 100 times their weight, in those first few years of a child's life, each day is like a physical work-out for new super-human mums .
Picking up our kids is instinctive and evolutionary.
But have you noticed how, by and large, mums tend to carry their little ones on their LEFT hip?
As it turns out, this lateral preference isn't simply a coincidence, but rather another amazing feat which our bodies perform.
To the left, to the left
According to research published in Nature Ecology & Evolution , mothers hold their offspring to the left to spur the right brain into action.
It's an instinct we share with other animals
The reason for choosing the left over the right is because of one of the right brain's primary functions.
Typically in charge of emotional signs and language, when the right brain has been engaged, and with baby held to the left, mums can better read and make sense of their babies' actions, expressions and sounds.
It's technical name is 'lateralisation' and it's something we have in common with not just our ape cousins, but other mammals too.
'Disgusting' truth behind mum's cute photo gives realistic insight into parenting
Walruses, feral horses and reindeer have also been reported to use lateralisation with their babies. In fact, the study into it looked at a total of 11 different species.
The report explains, "The position of an infant on the mother’s left side may optimise maternal monitoring by directing sensory information predominantly to the mother’s right hemisphere."
There's no word on what happens if you keep carry your child on your right hand side, but we imagine it doesn't prevent anyone from being any better a parent.
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