WATCH: The pincer grasp

From birth your newborn will instinctively close their teeny-tiny fingers around yours when you gently touch the palm of their hand. Oh the joys of having your little one hold onto you oh-so tightly.

At 4 to 6 months though, they’ll probably start letting go, but they’ll move on to perfect the skill of reaching, grasping and picking up objects in the palm of their hand, and anywhere between 8 and 12 months they’ll go on to develop the pincer grasp reflex.

The pincer grasp is more of a skill your little one will have to develop, rather than a reflex they’re born with. Once they gain a little strength in their fingers, and a bit of dexterity too, they’ll be able to pick up smaller objects between their thumb and forefinger.

To help them develop the skill, let them feed themselves at the dinner table. Place chopped up veggies on their high chair tray and they’ll reach for and attempt to pick it up using the pincer grasp. At first, you may have to intervene and help them along and, of course, you’ll probably have to duck from the flying broccoli too, but eventually, they’ll get the hang of it.

More newborn reflexes:

• The palmar grasp reflex
• The spinal galant reflex
• Rooting and sucking reflex
• The Moro reflex
• Plantar reflex
• Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex
• The stepping reflex in newborns

Sources: BabyCentre, Parents

Share your experience with your babies and their new reflexes by emailing chatback@parent24.com.

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