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Created with love and care by our child development experts, this is a comprehensive set of guidelines for various baby development milestones and a tool for helping parents grow with their babies.
Fine Motor Skills 0 - 1 m
Reflex Time: The Grasp Reflex and the Sucking Reflex
When your baby comes into the world she is equipped with a set of reflexes that help her cope with the world.
Hands
Newborns' fists are clenched most of the time, and they have virtually no control over their hands. The hands are now goverened by the grasp reflex, which makes them grasp a toy or finger you place in his hand. At some point, the muscles relax and the object falls - this is completely unintentional and without awareness.
Eyes
The eye muscles are also weak: newborns can track moving objects with slow, jumpy movements.
Milestones
- Has well-developed sucking reflex.
- Can track slow moving objects.
- Has no control over hands; movement is controlled by reflexes
Tiny Tips
- During the first month, when you talk to your baby, move your head slowly from side-to-side, so that she will track your movements.
- Move colorful toys and objects from side-to-side to strengthen her eye muscles.
Articles
Motor Development in the First Year
The first year of a baby’s life is full of wondrous changes. As the months pass, our little babies transform into mobile, chatty and willful little toddlers with their personal goals and unique personalities. What are the major milestones during this year and how can you support them?
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Fine Motor Skills
Your baby’s ability to control his muscles belies every movement he makes. A delicate balance of our fine and gross motor skills are what enable adults and children to be physically active, and control our bodies as we wish.
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