Fine Motor Milestones

Fine Motor Milestones

By 1 Month

• Babies exhibit grasping reflex, where they tightly grab on to a finger.
• Hands remain in clenched fists most of the time.
• They can put their fist in their mouth (although it will take a few tries to get there).

1 to 6 Months

• Hands are half opened most of the time, and baby will practice opening and closing them.
• Swipes at dangling objects.
• Uses a clawlike or raking motion (fingers and thumbs together) to grab things.
• Uses his hands to explore his body.
• Grasps and shakes handheld toys.

7 to 12 Months

• Pincer grasp develops.
• Delights at picking up and dropping toys.
• Starts to stack blocks, up to four blocks by age 1.
• Transfers items from one hand to the other, turns them from side to side, and twists them upside down.

1 to 3 Years

• Can turn doorknobs.
• Can put pegs in holes, circles first, and then, by age 2, squares.
• Will start to draw, often with large, sweeping lines and swirls.
• Can take off shoes and unzip a zipper.
• Can hold a cup with one hand.
• Starts to paint and play with clay.