Learning to Pick up Objects

Babies are born with the grasping reflex. From birth, your baby can grasp an object, usually your finger. You will need to put your finger against the palm of the baby’s hand to get her to grasp at it. As your baby grows, she will develop the coordination to actually pick up things and hold them.

 

For the first two months of life, the grasping reflex is not a voluntary action. The baby will only grasp objects that are placed on the palm of his hand. At about two months old, the baby will discover his hands. He will begin opening and closing his fist and watching his hands as they move. At this age, he may begin to grab objects, such as his clothing or a blanket. This is not a voluntary movement either. The baby will grab objects that brush his hands.