How to train your baby's grasping ability when he can't grasp things

After the baby is born, he needs to exercise his limbs, etc. He also needs to train the fine movements of his hands. Today I will share with you how to train your baby's grasping ability.

Baby grasping ability development timeline

Birth to 2 months

Touch your baby's palm with your finger, and he will curl up his little fingers to hold your fingers. But before the baby is 8 weeks old, it is just instinctive and involuntary. Soon he will begin to consciously practice opening and closing and study his little hands. He may even try to grab something soft, such as a plush toy.

3 months

Although your baby still can't grab the exact thing he wants, he can hit the toy over and over again. Your baby's hand-eye coordination is also improving, and he will stare at the thing he wants and try to reach it. You can put a play mat on the floor so that your baby can lie on the soft mat and hit the toys hanging in front of him.

4–8 months

At 4 months old, babies can grab large objects, such as building blocks, but they cannot grab small objects such as peas very well, and their fingers need to develop more flexibly to do so. When the first tooth grows between 3 and 12 months, they start to grab things and put them in their mouths. When babies start to eat complementary foods, they will try to grab the spoon. Although they are not very stable, they will pull the food in their direction and transfer things from one hand to the other.

9-12 months

Babies at this age can easily pick up things and show a preference for their left or right hand, but to determine whether he is left-handed, you need to wait until the baby is two or three years old. After that, the baby will continue to improve his ability to pinch objects, and as the baby's coordination ability improves, he will soon be able to skillfully use spoons and other tableware to eat.

How to train baby's grasping ability?

Mothers can choose some toys that are easy to grasp, colorful, and make pleasant sounds for their babies, so that their babies can practice grasping. Mothers can hold their babies in front of the table, put different toys on the table, one at a time, and teach them how to play with them. At the same time, tell the babies the names of the toys to stimulate the children's desire to actively reach for the toys.

Grip training game

Finger grasping method: When training the baby's grip strength, the mother can put her thumb or index finger in the baby's palm and let the baby grasp it by himself. After the baby feels a certain grip strength, pull the finger outward from the baby's palm to test whether the baby can grasp it.

Pull the string method: Babies after 2 months old cannot pull the string by themselves, so mothers can buy some toys with pull strings. It is best to choose those toys that will move or make sounds, such as music, when the strings are pulled. When starting training, mothers should put the string in the baby's hand to help the baby pull it. The movement or sound of the toy will arouse the baby's interest. After many trainings, the baby will be able to play by himself.

Grasping hanging objects method: Hang some colorful small soft plastic animals or other things low above the baby's crib, shake the hanging objects to attract the baby's attention, then pull the baby's hand to help him (her) grasp, and slowly tease the baby to reach out and grasp. The mother or father can also deliberately put the toy with a rope into the baby's hand, and then suddenly lift the toy when the baby does not grasp it firmly, so as to stimulate the baby's interest. After several stimulations, the baby will take the initiative to wave his hands to grasp.

Grabbing ball method: This training method can train the baby's hand grip and the baby's eye tracking vision. When training, the mother can first let the baby lie on his stomach and then slowly roll a brightly colored ball from the place where the baby can grasp it. At the beginning, when the ball rolls from one side to the other, the baby will watch attentively. After several repetitions, the baby will soon reach out to grab the ball.

Exercise baby's grasping ability

(1) Let the baby hold the mother's finger

Generally, the hands of newborn babies are in a fist shape with the thumb in the palm, and the hands cannot be opened on their own for the time being. The mother can prepare some toys with smooth thin handles and put them in the baby's hands for him to grasp, or use some objects to gently touch the first and second knuckles of the baby's hands. If the baby's fingers stretch, the mother will quickly put her fingers in the baby's palm, let the baby hold the mother's fingers, and then guide the baby to let go. This action can be repeated to train the baby.

(2) Letting go of your baby’s progress

Babies after 2 months old cannot grasp or let go of things with their hands. At around 3 months old, babies will instinctively use their hands to grasp things around them, but because they cannot judge the distance very accurately, they often fail to grasp them. Once they grasp something, they will hold it tightly and not easily let go. At this time, babies need to learn how to let go of their hands and throw away toys. The First Baby Parenting Network reminds mothers not to force the baby's hands to open at this time, forcing him to let go of the things in his hands, as babies don't like this. When the baby can easily let go of the things in his hands, it means that the good grasping ability has taken another step forward. The baby can not only control the grasping muscles, but also the letting go muscles.

(3) Let your baby hold the toy

After the baby learns to grasp and let go, parents can consciously put some toys that can attract the baby and can be grasped, such as squeezing toys, rattles, etc. You can also shake the toys in front of the baby to attract the baby to reach out and grab them. When the baby grabs the toy in your hand, he will wave his arms like you.