Babies are born with a grasping reflex, but it takes time for their coordination and muscle control to develop enough that they can grab items voluntarily. Your baby will likely bat at dangling objects and be able to hold and shake a toy around 3 to 4 months old. By 6 months old, they'll be able to reach for and grab something they want. Encourage your baby's grasping skills by keeping soft toys within their reach.
When do babies start grabbing things?
All babies develop at their own pace, but in general, you can expect your baby to start working on grabbing things between 3 and 6 months old. They'll start by swiping at toys hanging overhead and grasping an object you put in their hand. Eventually [by 6 months old] they'll be able to grab and hold objects without your help.
This is an exciting milestone because babies love grabbing for toys, and many will play happily on an activity mat, totally engaged in their attempts. Also, being able to grasp things is your baby's first step on the road to eating, reading, writing, drawing, and self-care.
As a newborn, your baby has an innate ability to grasp objects. But it will take much of the first year to develop the coordination to pick up and hold things securely in their hands. They'll start working intensively on this skill by about 12 weeks old and make leaps with each passing month.
How babies learn to reach, grab, and hold things
Newborn to 2 months
Babies are born with the grasping reflex – touch your baby's palm and they'll curl their 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 they'll 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 they want accurately, but they can bat at toys over and over. At this age, your baby is also developing their hand-eye coordination, noticing things they'd like to hold and attempting to reach for them.
4 to 8 months
At 4 months, your baby can probably grasp and shake a toy if you put it in their hand.
By 6 months old, your baby will likely be able to reach and grab a toy they want. They'll also start picking up things so they can put them in their mouth. [Keep small items out of reach so your baby can't choke on them!]
If your baby is eating solids, they won't be able to hold a baby spoon steady, but they'll try.
At this age your baby can rake objects their way, and will start moving things from one hand to the other. But they won't be able to grab smaller objects, like peas, until they develop the finger dexterity needed for the pincer grasp, around 9 months.
9 to 12 months
By now your baby can probably pick up objects easily. And their preference for their left or right hand is emerging, though you won't be able to determine true left- or right-handedness until your child is 2 or 3 years old.
Your baby is now perfecting their pincer grasp, which lets them pick up small objects between their thumb and forefinger and get finger foods into their mouth.
With their increased coordination, your baby will soon be able to experiment with using a spoon or fork at mealtime, though they may prefer to hold the utensil in one hand while using their fingers to actually eat. You'll probably have to help them hold the spoon or fork when you show your baby how to use it, but they'll get the hang of it more quickly if you let them give it a few tries at every meal.
How to help your baby with reaching and grabbing
Encourage your baby's grasping skills by putting a toy or colorful object slightly out of their reach and encouraging them to grab it. [Don't frustrate your baby by putting it so far away that they can't get it, though.]
Give your baby lots of objects they can easily grasp, such as soft blocks, plastic rings, and board books. Most babies love developmental toys they can grab and shake, like rattles. And many play mats and activity centers for babies have plenty of fun hanging objects for babies to grab for.
Later, when your baby is working on their pincer grasp, encourage them to pick up soft finger foods, such as peas and cooked carrots. To guard against choking, don't give your baby nuts, raw carrots, and other unsafe foods.
By the time your child is 18 months old, they'll discover the joy of putting things into other things. You can help them develop this skill by giving them stacking and nesting toys, or household objects to put in empty boxes or other containers.
What to do if your baby isn't reaching and grabbing
Talk to your baby's doctor if:
- By 4 months old, your baby can't hold toys and shake them
- By 4 months old, your baby can't swing at dangling toys
- Your baby was able to grab or hold toys, but can't now
Babies develop at different rates, so there may be nothing to worry about. But bring it up with the doctor just in case. Also, premature babies may reach this and other milestones later than their peers – check with your child's doctor about a reasonable time frame.
After your baby starts reaching and grabbing things, what's 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, they'll enjoy rolling a large ball, stacking blocks into towers, and banging things together.
By the time your baby is 18 months old, their artistic side may emerge, and they'll be able to scribble. At 4 years old, they'll be coordinated enough to hold a crayon or pencil between fingers and thumb. At 5 years old, they'll attempt to jot down letters, and maybe even pen their name.