Fine Motor Skills: Pincer Grasp and Hand Skills From Birth to 18 Months

Typical order, with rough ages

Every baby moves at their own pace; use the age from the due date if born early. - Birth to 2 months: hands mostly fisted, with a strong grasp reflex. Hands start to open. - 3 to 4 months: hands to mouth, swiping at toys, holding a rattle placed in the hand. - 5 to 6 months: reaching and grabbing on purpose with the whole hand; passing a toy from one hand to the other. - 6 to 8 months: a raking grasp to scoop up small things; banging toys on surfaces. - 8 to 10 months: banging two things together; poking with the pointer finger; the first attempts at a thumb-and-finger grip. - 9 to 12 months: a neat pincer grasp, picking up a pea or a puff between thumb and pointer finger; dropping things on purpose; putting objects into a container. - 12 to 18 months: stacking two or three blocks, turning thick board book pages, scribbling, feeding with fingers and trying a spoon.

Everyday ways to build it

• Floor and tummy time. Pushing up through the arms builds the shoulder strength fine skills rely on (see the tummy time guide).
• Self-feeding. Soft finger foods are pincer-grasp practice three times a day (see the baby-led weaning guide). Expect mess; it's part of learning.
• Fill and dump. Large blocks into a bowl, balls into a box, lids on and off.
• Different textures. Crinkly fabric, a wooden spoon, a silicone cup, a soft brush.
• Turning pages of sturdy board books together.
• Push, pull and poke. Lift-the-flap books, a cardboard box with finger-sized holes to poke through, a scarf to pull out of a tissue box.
• From about a year, chunky crayons on big paper and stacking cups.
• Keep the items few and simple. See the baby games 6 to 12 months and open-ended toys guides.

Safety while hands get busy

• Babies explore with their mouths. Anything that fits through a toilet-paper tube is a choking risk.
• Keep button batteries, magnets, water beads, coins and balloons out of reach entirely.
• Supervise all small-food practice with the baby sitting upright (see the choking and infant CPR guide).

Hand preference

• Babies use both hands for a long time. A clear, consistent left- or right-hand preference usually isn't set until 2 to 3 years or later.
• A strong preference for one hand before about 12 to 18 months, with the other hand ignored or kept fisted, can point to weakness on one side and is worth mentioning.

When to check in

• Mention it at the next checkup if, by 4 months, your baby doesn't bring hands to mouth or hold a toy placed in their hand; by 6 months, doesn't reach for toys; by 12 months, can't pick up small things or bang objects together.
• Bring up hands that stay tightly fisted after 3 to 4 months, a strong one-hand preference before 18 months, or any loss of skills. An occupational therapist through early intervention can help if needed (see the early intervention guide).