Your baby's palmar grasp is both primitive and perfect
The most active part of your newborn baby's brain is that concerned with functions like breathing, heart rate and reflexes – the things that are essential for survival. Many of the little actions that you notice in the first days and weeks after your baby is born will be primitive reflexes, which are involuntary responses to sensory stimuli.[1]
When do primitive reflexes develop?
Primitive reflexes emerge in the womb from around 9-12 weeks after conception and are fully developed by 40 weeks. These reflexes help in the process of being born and during the first weeks of life. Postural reflexes emerge after birth and continue to develop during the first years of life.
The palmar grasp reflex
Very early on, you'll experience the incredible moment when your baby grips hold of your finger and clings on. Beautiful as this action is, it is also primitive. Grasping an object when their palm is stroked is the result of a primitive reflex called the palmar grasp.
The palmar grasp reflex emerges before your baby is born and will stop after a few months as your baby develops the ability to control the opening and closing of their hands.[2]
The palmar grasp reflex has two parts: one is the closing of their fingers and the other is ‘clinging’[3] (it's incredible, but a baby can hold their body weight with this grasp, but they can't when they let go so this is not something you should try!).
A hand-me-down reflex from our ancestors
It's thought that the palmar reflex is linked to an earlier stage in our evolution when our ancestors spent time in trees, and newborns would need to cling to their mother to avoid falling.
It is also thought that this and other primitive reflexes stimulate the areas of the brain linked to these movements, and so support the development of controlled movements in the future.[3]
Feeding and the Babkin response
The palmar reflex also has a link to feeding: hands or paws in young mammals play a large part in being able to hold or knead food. You might notice this connection between the mouth and hands when you see your baby’s hands clench when they suck; this link between hands and mouth is known as the Babkin response.[4]
Your baby's increasing hand control
In the next few months, your baby will become more aware of their hands and begin to gain control over their movements. As your baby begins to open and close their hands and then starts to support their weight on their hands, the palmar grasp will become 'integrated' – this means that your baby will control their grasp rather than this being a reflexive response.
The integration of the palmar grasp reflex is part of the journey towards developing control of the hands and fingers. Soon, your baby will be able to grasp and let go of objects at will and then as they develop control of their fingers will be able to pick up and move smaller ones.
References:
[1] Goddard-Blythe, S. (2004). The Well Balanced Child: Movement and Early Learning. Stroud: Hawthorn Press.
[2] Lewis, R (24th November 2020) ‘All about your baby’s grasping reflex’ (Online) Available at: Baby Grasp Reflex: Palmar vs. Plantar, in Adults, More (healthline.com) (Accessed on: 4th October 2021).
[3] Anekar AA, Bordoni B. Palmar Grasp Reflex. (9 September 2020). In: StatPearls [Online]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553133/
[4] Hill, J & Harrington, R (29th June 2021) ‘What is the palmar grasp reflex.’ (Online). Available at: What is the Palmar Grasp Reflex? (harkla.co) (Accessed on 4th October 2021).