Your baby's opening hands and greater arm control

Your baby developed the palmar grasp reflex before they were born, and they will still curl their fingers around an object that is placed in their hand. However, they are beginning to gain control of the movement of their hands, so although they will still often hold them in a closed fist position, you might see that they are starting to hold their hands open, or slightly open more frequently.

Opening hands 

Even as your baby is able to control their hands to open them more often, they can't yet move their hands deliberately towards an object. They will continue to move their arms and sometimes this will bring their hand close to an object.^[1] Your baby will also gain more control of their arm movements and sometimes be able to move their hand to their mouth.

Links between gross motor and fine motor skills 

Your baby’s fine motor skills are often aligned with their gross motor skills, as the movements of their arm and hand are closely linked. As your baby develops control of their movements, their arm will provide support, help to position their hand, and as they develop more awareness of their body, help them to control force.^[1] The movements they make, which for now are random, will help them to develop strength and control to move with more purpose. Giving your baby time to wriggle and you responding to them will help to encourage these movements.

Rhymes and stroking their palm 

As your baby starts to open their hand more often, rhymes that involve gently touching or stroking their palm could help to integrate the palmar grasp reflex.^[2] So, playing ‘Round and Round the Garden’ might encourage your baby to open their hand and become more aware of their hands as they feel your gentle touch.

Grasping objects is on the horizon!

During the next few months, your baby will develop more control of their arm and hand movements. They will be able to move their arm so that their hand can touch an object and will be able to open their hand in order to grasp something. They will continue to make random movements and will start to explore making different movements with their hands, touching their fingers and opening and closing their hands in different ways.  

References: 

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

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