Try and try again: the process of reaching out for an object

Your baby will have been exploring movements of their arms and hands. They will be beginning to gain more control of these movements and will be able to move their arm so that they can grasp an object with their hand.  

Arm movements  

The development of your baby’s arm and hand movements are closely linked, as your baby uses their arm to position their hand in order to touch and grasp objects.^[1]  

When your baby first starts to reach for objects, much of the movement to bring their hand into position is made from the shoulder. The movement might look different according to the position of their shoulder.^[2]   

Researchers have looked closely at the movements babies make as they begin to reach for objects, and when your baby first starts to reach they are likely to use a circular motion. At first, they will move their arm in an arc towards the object but with practice, they will move their arm straight to the object.^[3]     

Starting again 

When your baby first starts to reach for objects, they will begin the movement again if they are not successful. They will move their arm towards an object and if they don't touch it, will try again until they are successful.^[1] 

As they gain experience and are more able to control their movement and judge the position of the object, they will make adjustments to their movement as they reach towards it. 

Getting ready to grasp 

Your baby has been developing control of their hands and you might notice that as they practise reaching they begin to position their hand ready to hold the toy or object. They might open their hand but also adjust its position as they are able to think about how to hold the toy.  

It will take lots of time, practise moving in different ways, and reaching for objects for your baby to be able to adjust their movements so that they can reach for, hold and move objects successfully at the first attempt. 

What can you look out for?

Your baby will develop control of their movements and be able to reach for and hold objects the first time that they reach for them. They will hold and explore objects using their hands and mouth as their physical skills develop and after lots of practice be able to reach for and stop a moving object.  

References: 

[1] Sugden, D & Wade, M. (2013) Clinics in developmental medicine. Typical and atypical motor development. London: Mac Keith Press. 

[2] Cech, D.J., Martin, S.T. (2011) Functional movement development across the life span. 3rd edn. St Louis Elsevier. 

[3] Goddard-Blythe, S. (2004). The Well Balanced Child: Movement and Early Learning. Stroud: Hawthorn Press.