Your baby's hands and arms will move with more purpose

When your baby was born, their hands will have been closed for much of the time, but around now you might notice that they are starting to have their hands open more often. They will also begin to open their hands in different ways, perhaps bringing their fingers towards their thumb or looking like they are pointing with a finger. Let's take a closer look...

Exploring movements 

At the moment the movements that your baby makes will be spontaneous and they will not control these movements. They might begin to move their fingers in different ways, perhaps having one finger a little straighter than the others or moving a finger towards their thumb.^[1] The movements that your baby makes now help them to become aware of their hands and to develop the strength and control that they will need to make more purposeful movements in the future.  

Developing control 

Your baby’s movements will gradually become more purposeful and as they gain control of their movements they will move their arms towards objects. Gaining control of their arms will enable them to move their hand to touch objects and people and this will support your baby’s awareness and control of their hands.^[2]   

When your baby’s hand touches something, their brain can begin to link the signal from the touch with their movement and this helps them to develop their awareness of their body and movements.  

What will follow? 

Your baby will move a lot in the next few months and years; their movements will gradually become more controlled and through these movements they will develop their ability to pick up, hold and move smaller items.  

You will see them begin to move their hand deliberately to touch an object, then be able to open their hand to grab an object, and after lots of practice, be able to use their fingers to pull smaller objects towards their palm to pick up objects.  

References:

[1] Task Oriented Movement Therapy (undated) Foundation manual behaviours: Newborn to 5 months. [Online] Available at: Foundation Manual Behaviors: Newborn to 5 months | Task Oriented Movement Therapy (skillsforaction.com). Accessed on: 15th October 2021.  

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