Development & Milestones
Hand-Eye Coordination & Reaching
Hand-eye coordination develops gradually: Batting at objects (3 months), purposeful reaching (4 months), grasping successfully (5-6 months), transferring objects between hands (6-7 months), pincer grasp (8-10 months).
Early reaching is inaccurate - baby swipes at objects and misses. With practice, becomes more precise. Grasping starts as whole-hand "raking" motion, progresses to thumb-finger pincer grasp.
Crucial for self-feeding, playing with toys, and later writing skills.
What to Do
- Offer toys within baby's reach (8-12 inches away at first)
- Use high-contrast toys for young babies (easier to see and reach for)
- Place toys slightly out of reach to encourage intentional reaching (not frustratingly far)
- Let baby practice grasping: offer your fingers, soft toys, rattles
- Around 6 months: Offer objects to transfer hand-to-hand
- Around 8-9 months: Practice pincer grasp with cheerios, puffs (supervised)
- Lots of tummy time - strengthens arms and shoulders needed for reaching
- Limit time in containers (bouncer, swing) - floor time is better for motor development
- Baby will bring everything to mouth - this is normal exploration, keep choking hazards away
When to call a doctor
Call doctor if baby doesn't try to reach for objects by 6 months, doesn't bring hands together by 4 months, strongly favors one hand before 12 months (may indicate weakness), or seems to have lost skills previously achieved.