From birth, infants use their hands to gather information about their bodies and surrounding surfaces. Spontaneous self-generated movements of their arms and legs provide contact with their environment.

In this article I describe all the different ways babies use their hands and provide pointers to identifying your baby's abilities as well as the movement tasks he/she that may need extra practice to master.

May 17, 2017 · Arm and hand movements are usually symmetrical (the right and left hands moving in unison) and babies’ hands should be able to open and close easily. During tummy time, 4-month-old babies alternate easily between a superman position and a forearm propped position.

Jul 27, 2017 · If your baby’s hands are shaky or jerky, you may worry that something’s wrong. More than likely, your infant is exhibiting normal behavior, but in rare instances, hand tremors may be a sign of something more serious.

From sleep deprivation to fatigue, the baby has a new favourite habit of opening and closing hands. Like any unusual development, baby opening and closing hands could leave you wondering if they are normal. What does the habit mean? Should you be worried? Can you do anything about it?

May 3, 2020 · With practice, baby’s hand and wrist skills get better. Around 9-12 months, they begin to scoop instead of just dip and the spoon into purees. Baby also has to practice getting the spoon to their mouth without dumping it all over themselves - this is …

Nov 23, 2023 · Recognizing patterns in a baby’s hand movements allows parents to understand and respond to their infant’s cues, fostering a deeper parent-child connection. What does close hands mean baby? A baby closing their hands can indicate self …

Aug 1, 2009 · With his improved coordination, your baby can now investigate the objects he encounters more thoroughly. He’ll pick them up, shake them, bang them, and pass them from hand to hand. He’ll be particularly intrigued by toys with moving parts—wheels that spin, levers that can be moved, hinges that open and close.

Aug 30, 2023 · Hands are extraordinarily complex organs and it is completely normal and developmentally appropriate to see a baby opening and closing them repeatedly. They are at the stage where they have discovered their hands and are curious and eager to see what they are capable of doing with them.

Discover how your baby's hand skills evolve from birth to age 3. Learn tips and games to boost their development with our expert insights!