At first your baby has little interest in his hands, but as he becomes more aware of his body they will begin to fascinate him more and more.
When he waves his arms around, his hand will accidentally touch his face and he’ll put it in his mouth to suck. At two to three months, he finds the movements of his fingers fascinating and will watch them for ages. By about four months, he’ll grab hold of objects to ‘’test’’ them in his mouth. At six months, he refines his manual skills and feels with his fingers as much as his mouth.
MANIPULATION
Your baby was born with the reflex to grasp anything that is placed in his palm- such as your finger- and not let go; his grip is so strong he can support his own weight (though you should never actually let him do so). When he is not holding something, his hands will be tightly closed in a fist, although they’ll probably open and close when he cries, and he will open them instinctively when he is startled. The early reflex grasp must be lost if he is to learn to select an object, reach out, and pick it up with thumb and forefinger- the basic skill of manual dexterity. Most babies will develop a mature “pincer” grip by one year of age.
Newborn
From birth, your baby has the ability to grasp an object and hold on. This grasping reflex is so strong it allows him to support his own weight.
2 months
Your baby is becoming more aware of his hands, and his reflex grasping action has almost gone. His hands are much more open now, too.
5 months
Your baby is eager to grab things with his whole hand. He will hold his feet, or a soft toy, and transfer them to his mouth to suck.
6 months
Your baby holds his bottle of cup, and he’ll be able to hold between two hands an object that is given to him.
