Your baby is now two months old. Congratulations! You’re doing a great job. But I know it hasn’t been easy. From sleep deprivation to fatigue, the baby has a new favourite habit of opening and closing hands.
Like any unusual development, baby opening and closing hands could leave you wondering if they are normal. What does the habit mean? Should you be worried? Can you do anything about it?
Let’s explore all about babies opening and closing hands plus motor development skills/ coordination.
Baby Opening And Closing Hands: Why?
There are various reasons why a baby opens and closes their hands. First, they just discovered their hands and are exploring what the tiny fingers can do. Secondly, they find the action entertaining. Another reason is that your baby is improving muscle development and coordination, laying a foundation for fine motor skills.
If you’re not sure about your baby, do not panic. They are healthy and progressing well. Sometimes it’s just about the fun and excitement of making a discovery.
These motor skills they are gradually developing at this stage will help in mastering coordination in the coming months. Baby opening/closing hands is part of a crucial learning process.
Is It Normal For a Baby To Open And Close Hands?
Yes. It’s perfectly normal for your baby to open and close their hands. Soon after birth, babies are fond of tightly clenching their fists. As they grow towards the second and third months, hand muscles relax.
During this phase, they can half-open and close their hands, and find it magical. They’ll do it continuously as a way of entertainment. By the sixth-seventh month, they will have upgraded motor skills, including holding and shaking toys.
Additionally, babies find their hands appealing and may keep staring at them. It becomes their new favourite activity when they learn something extra, like opening and closing hands.
You should rejoice because if your munchkin has difficulty controlling their hands, it could be a pointer to an underlying medical condition. The NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver institute of child health and human development cites the inability to put hands in their mouth or stiffness in hand and leg muscles as major signs of cerebral palsy in children.
What Does It Mean When A Baby Opens And Closes Hands?
Opening and closing hands in babies are one form of communication. It’s a sign that your munchkin is learning new skills and developing daily. The arms and muscles develop better coordination.
While any development can worry new parents, it’s wise to understand the science behind any behaviour your baby shows. Why is your baby constantly opening and closing hands lately? What are they trying to mean?
- Expressing excitement/frustration
Babies or infants may use Fist clenching and opening/closing hands to communicate emotions. When they are excited, they often show it using their hands. You may note them opening and closing their hands while crying if they are frustrated.
- They find it entertaining.
Unlike adults, babies take an interest in any new thing. They find the movements from opening and closing hands funny. This explains why it is common to find babies with eyes glued on their hands, as it seems entertaining.
- It’s part of self-discovery.
Imagine discovering something you never thought you had. I’m sure you’d be excited. The same applies to babies. All of a sudden, it’s like they just discovered their hands. The munchkin realized they could control their hands by opening and closing them. This is a big achievement that makes them want to do it repeatedly.
- A show of improved muscle coordination and development
A baby learns developmental skills every day. They start from clenching fists to half-opening hands and full opening and closing. This trend is motivating and a pointer that your baby is on the right track.
The behaviour shows improvement in muscle development and coordination, which is good. Soon the baby will be in a better position to do more with their tiny hands, such as exploring new objects/toys.
- New fine motor skills
From birth to around three or four months, a baby develops many fine motor skills involving hands. This motor development milestone includes the following:
- Discovering their hands
- Opening and closing hands
- Bringing hands to their mouth
- Reflexive grasping and touching
- Attempts to grab toys or colourful objects nearby.
Every parent wishes to see the achievement of their child’s growth milestones. However, new parents may need to learn the normal range within which their babies should grow.
When you see your little one suddenly opening and closing hands, It’s OK to think something is amiss.That may not be the case; in most instances, the baby does what other healthy, normal children do.
Always remember every behaviour has a meaning behind it. Understanding what opening and closing hands mean in babies will make your parenting journey more enjoyable.
How Do Your Baby’s Hand Skills Develop?
The hand is a crucial part of a human being. Most parents may need help understanding how their Baby’s hand skills develop.
Just like crawling or walking, simple motor skills such as grabbing, grasping, or holding are important for healthy development.
Coordinating a baby’s fingers is more challenging than it seems. It takes a lot of learning and practice before mastering.
Hand skills develop in phases as follows:
- 1-2 months
Soon after birth, babies have a reflex response that makes them curl their fingers inwards. The reflex goes away towards a baby’s third month.
When they are slightly over two months old, your baby starts learning to half-open and discover their hands. They also have better eye-hand coordination that helps in learning and discovery.
- 3-4 months
At this phase, the hands have improved muscle coordination. The baby can now reach for objects or toys in front of them using their hands. They can playfully follow dangling objects with their eyes while their hands move toys closer.
During this stage, it’s not uncommon to see your cute munchkin attempting to discover other body parts, such as the feet and toes. Some go to the extent of attempting to toss their tiny toes into the mouth.
- 5-8 months
Here, babies try to explore shapes and textures using their fingers. Use brightly-colored books that your baby can stroke to feel the texture.
By the 7th month, your baby can change toys from one hand to the other. Further, they know how to let things go. Additionally, babies can now recognize sounds and are fonder of toys with funny rattling or squeaking sounds.
- 9-12 months
In the ninth-tenth month, your Baby’s motor skills and coordination are a notch higher. They can use their hands better to manipulate toys, bang/drop objects, and spin the wheels of car toys. Also, towards their first birthday, they can handle a phone and put it on their ears as if listening to the caller.
Within 10-12 months, the baby has better control of its hands and fingers. They can grasp firmly and even use their pointer fingers to point at objects. Interestingly, some babies try to put snacks and treats in their mouths. They have more independence at this point.
Ways To Improve A Baby’s Motor Skills
You are your Baby’s first teacher. After answering’ why does a baby open and close hands’, Below are ways to help you improve your baby’s skills:
- Read books to and with your little one regularly.
Reading an attractive book with your baby helps them feel the texture with their hands while exploring shapes using their eyes. According to Baby Sparks, books encourage fine motor skills development through turning pages, pointing to illustrations/words, and hand-eye coordination.
- Offer your baby colourful, baby-safe toys.
Aside from being fun play items, toys help your baby develop motor and intellectual skills. However, ensure you choose safe ones that may not harm the little one. Amazon is among the online stores with various baby-friendly toys for children of all ages.
- Give room for your little one to develop/practice independence
It’s OK for every parent to see their babies as tiny, cute, and dependent on them. Allowing your munchkin to hold a cup or spoon when trying to feed is a good start in boosting self-independence.
Starting from eight months, babies can accurately grip objects. Don’t mind the messiness of this developing independence, and it’s worthwhile.
- Provide a favourable, safe learning space
As your baby develops, ensure there’s a safe hazard-free environment. If, for example, you have dangling toys in their crib, keep them at a safe distance away from your Baby’s reach. Sometimes the baby may brush their fingers on your face. Please keep it clean.
Wrapping Up
Every stage of a baby’s development presents a learning moment for parents. A baby opening and closing hands repeatedly is a major concern for most first-time mothers.
First, don’t panic about your baby opening and closing hands; it’s a sign of healthy development. This means the little one is gaining better fine motor skills and is out to discover its hands more. They also find the act of opening/closing hands fun and entertaining.
Providing baby-safe toys, reading books together, and allowing room for self-independence are ways you can help your baby to develop crucial skills. Contact your paediatrician immediately if you’re concerned about your baby opening and closing hands.
