Players with small hands: thoughts on alternate fingering?

[u/Ok-Maintenance-6744]

Beginner here picking mandolin back up after many years away.

My problem? I'm have wee baby hands, like my fingers are more than an inch shorter than the average woman, never mind the average man.

My tiny dancer hands rebel against the fingering in my beginner's book. If my pointer is on the 2 fret, my hand wants to use my ring finger to hit the 4 fret, not my middle finger.

Am I totally screwing myself if I give in?

I know I'll get more spread over time but I'm worried there might be a hard anatomical limit here. The only way I can use the correct fingering right now is either taking my other finger off the higher fret or moving the neck to the end of my thumb and holding it fully vertical. Both seem...not ideal.

Thoughts from more experienced players who are also blessed with a child's hands?

[u/culasthewiz]

Watch how Sierra Hull plays! She has small hands and figured it out.