As a newborn, your baby had an innate ability to grasp objects, and while it will take him or her at least a year to develop the coordination to pick up and hold onto things securely, right now he or she is starting to work intensively on this skill.
How grasping develops
Newborn to 2 months
Babies are born with the grasping reflex – touch a baby's palm and he or she will curl tiny fingers around yours. But these movements are instinctual and involuntary for the first eight weeks. During this time, your baby's hands will mostly be clenched in a fist, but he or she will soon begin to open and close them on purpose and to examine them. Your baby may even try to grasp soft objects, such as a stuffed animal.
3 months
Your baby still can't grab what he or she wants accurately but can bat at toys over and over. Your baby is also developing hand-eye coordination, noticing things he or she would like to hold and attempting to reach for them. With a baby gym, your child can lie on a soft mat and swipe at fun things hanging above.
4 to 8 months
At 4 months, your baby can pick up large objects, such as blocks. Expect to see them heading straight for your baby's mouth! Once your baby is eating solids, he or she won't be able to hold a baby spoon steadily but may try. Your baby may rake objects toward himself or herself, and will start passing things from one hand to the other. It's a good idea to keep valuables out of reach from now on. And make sure your home is childproofed with respect to small objects that your baby could choke on.
9 to 12 months
With little effort, your baby can pick up objects now. A preference for the left or right hand is emerging, though you won't be able to determine true left- or right-handedness until your baby is 2 or 3 years old. He or she is also perfecting the pincer grasp, which lets him or her pick up small objects between the thumb and forefinger. With increased coordination, your baby will soon be able to use a spoon and fork fairly well at mealtime, though he or she may prefer to hold the utensil in one hand while using fingers to actually eat.
What comes next
Once your baby perfects grasping, throwing isn't far behind, so watch out – many babies enjoy hurling their toys. By the time your baby is a year old, he or she will enjoy playing ball, stacking towers, and banging things together. By the time your baby is 2, his or her artistic side will emerge, and he or she will be fascinated with crayons and how to use them to draw and write. At 3 years old, your baby will be coordinated enough to attempt to create letters.
Your role
To stimulate your baby's grasping reflex, try putting a toy or colorful object slightly out of reach and encouraging him or her to grab it. (Don't cause frustration by putting it so far away that he or she can't get it, though.) Give your baby lots of objects that can be easily grasped, too, such as soft blocks, plastic rings, and board books. Later, when your baby is working on the pincer grasp, encourage him or her to pick up soft finger foods such as peas and cooked carrots – perfectly good manners until he or she masters that spoon.