Kids Eat in Color is committed to providing informative articles based on scientific evidence.
This article is fact-checked by our team of experts.
Our team strives to be objective, unbiased, honest about the information provided.
This article contains scientific references. Please view them below.
10 Ways to Help Babies Develop Their Pincer Grasp
September 2022
Last reviewed: October 2022
Author:
Erinn Jacobi, M.S. OTR/L
Coauthors:
Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN
About Kids Eat in Color
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Author:
Erinn Jacobi, M.S. OTR/L
Coauthors:
Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN
Share
+
Inside: Learn all about the pincer grasp, including what it is, at what age it usually develops and how to teach your child to do it. Plus, get 10 pincer grasp activities for babies.
Has your baby developed their pincer grasp yet? Developing the pincer grasp is an important milestone when it comes to starting solid foods.
In this article, we cover everything parents need to know about the pincer grasp. Learn at what age the pincer grasp starts to develop, how to teach it to your baby and get ideas for pincer grasp activities.
The pincer grasp is the ability to grasp something between your thumb and index finger.
At what age do babies develop the pincer grasp?
The pincer grasp starts to develop in babies around 7-10 months of age. Before the pincer, you will see your child using a raking grasp where they “rake” the objects into their palms with their first four fingers.
Just like other skills, such as walking and using utensils, the pincer grasp will begin looking a little “crude” and will refine and develop as your baby practices and gets stronger.
How to teach the pincer grasp to babies
In the absence of biomechanical, sensory or motor issues, your baby’s pincer grasp will develop with practice and exposure.
Here are tips for helping your baby practice and improve their pincer grasp.
1. Provide different foods for baby to practice picking up
By providing them with different foods with varying textures, shapes and sizes, your baby will begin to problem-solve the best way to pick up and grasp those exciting first foods!
2. Let baby self-feed to help their development
Your child will work on the pincer grasp during meals when practicing self-feeding. The pincer grasp is a great step in your child being able to independently feed themselves.
3. Allow exploration during meals
Mealtimes are a wonderful time to practice developing this skill because of the exploratory and varied nature of new foods. Your baby might be motivated to touch and grasp foods you present to them.
10 activities to help your baby develop their pincer grasp
Any opportunity for you to allow your baby to play, explore and move using their core muscles, hands and arms is going to be great practice for promoting their pincer grasp.
Here are more activity ideas to encourage your baby to develop their pincer grasp.
1. Self-feeding can improve your baby’s pincer grasp
Serve food on a tray if possible or use another wide baby plate. This gives your baby the most room to be able to explore and practice with their hands.
Related: If you don’t love the mess that comes with self-feeding, read our guide to learn how to deal with messy eaters.
2. Practice the pincer grasp during floor time
The more your baby has the ability to practice laying on their tummy and independently playing on the floor, they will begin to develop the core and shoulder strength to promote a pincer grasp. The more rolling, crawling and climbing, the better!
3. Try index-finger-pointing activities
Push pop-up toys or other cause/effect buttons on your child’s favorite toys. You can also practice getting them to point to things in their environment.
4. Pulling objects can help your baby work on their pincer grasp
Try any activity that encourages your baby to pull an object out of something else, like towels out of an old wipes container.
5. Pushing objects can support pincer grasp development
Any activity that encourages pushing and weight-bearing through the arms is great in getting baby to develop these important motor skills.
6. Play ball games with your baby
Play with balls of various sizes and textures. Many babies love playing with balls!
Does your child love stickers? Practicing pulling off and placing stickers is great practice and usually very motivating for babies and young toddlers.
8. Pom-poms or cotton balls are great tools
Bright, colorful and soft, pom-poms or cotton balls can be fun developmental tools.
To help baby practice their pincer grasp, put pom-poms or cotton balls in a container and have your baby try to pull them out.
9. Play with building blocks and other tube-shaped toys
Tube-shaped toys can help encourage that same “pinching” pattern of holding used in the pincer grasp.
10. Use an egg carton to promote the pincer grasp
Put one item (for instance, one piece of o’s cereal) in an egg carton that has been thoroughly washed in hot, soapy water, and have your baby try to take each piece using their pincer grasp at a time.
When to talk to a pediatrician?
If your baby is making no attempts at a pincer grasp after 12 months of age, it is a good idea to talk to your pediatrician to see if they might need more support or further evaluation.
Smet, N. & Lucas, C.B. (2020). Occupational therapy view of child development. In Case-Smith’s Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (8th ed., pp 103-118). Elsevier.
Hirschel, A., Pehoski, C., & Coryell, J. (1990). Environmental Support and the Development of Grasp in Infants. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 44(8), 721–727. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.44.8.721.
About Kids Eat in Color
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Erinn Jacobi is an occupational therapist with almost a decade of experience in a variety of settings within pediatrics. Erinn has significant experience in outpatient, inpatient, acute, rehabilitation settings, working with families struggling with feeding, sensory processing, and how picky-eating is influenced by children's sensory experiences within their personal, familial, and community environments. Erinn has worked with a wide array of individuals and communities around the North East and is passionate about helping all families at mealtimes!
Related articles
8 Best High Chairs for Babies, According to Experts
Inside: Learn all about the pincer grasp, including what it is, at what age it usually develops and how to teach your child to do it. Plus, get 10 pincer grasp activities for babies.
Has your baby developed their pincer grasp yet? Developing the pincer grasp is an important milestone when it comes to starting solid foods.
In this article, we cover everything parents need to know about the pincer grasp. Learn at what age the pincer grasp starts to develop, how to teach it to your baby and get ideas for pincer grasp activities.
Article contents:
What is the pincer grasp?
When do babies develop the pincer grasp?
How do you teach the pincer grasp to babies?
10 pincer grasp activities for babies
What is the pincer grasp?
The pincer grasp is the ability to grasp something between your thumb and index finger.
At what age do babies develop the pincer grasp?
The pincer grasp starts to develop in babies around 7-10 months of age. Before the pincer, you will see your child using a raking grasp where they “rake” the objects into their palms with their first four fingers.
Just like other skills, such as walking and using utensils, the pincer grasp will begin looking a little “crude” and will refine and develop as your baby practices and gets stronger.
How to teach the pincer grasp to babies
In the absence of biomechanical, sensory or motor issues, your baby’s pincer grasp will develop with practice and exposure.
Here are tips for helping your baby practice and improve their pincer grasp.
1. Provide different foods for baby to practice picking up
By providing them with different foods with varying textures, shapes and sizes, your baby will begin to problem-solve the best way to pick up and grasp those exciting first foods!
2. Let baby self-feed to help their development
Your child will work on the pincer grasp during meals when practicing self-feeding. The pincer grasp is a great step in your child being able to independently feed themselves.
3. Allow exploration during meals
Mealtimes are a wonderful time to practice developing this skill because of the exploratory and varied nature of new foods. Your baby might be motivated to touch and grasp foods you present to them.
Two great finger foods for your baby to try: chickpeas and sweet potatoes.
10 activities to help your baby develop their pincer grasp
Any opportunity for you to allow your baby to play, explore and move using their core muscles, hands and arms is going to be great practice for promoting their pincer grasp.
Here are more activity ideas to encourage your baby to develop their pincer grasp.
1. Self-feeding can improve your baby’s pincer grasp
Serve food on a tray if possible or use another wide baby plate. This gives your baby the most room to be able to explore and practice with their hands.
Related: If you don’t love the mess that comes with self-feeding, read our guide to learn how to deal with messy eaters.
2. Practice the pincer grasp during floor time
The more your baby has the ability to practice laying on their tummy and independently playing on the floor, they will begin to develop the core and shoulder strength to promote a pincer grasp. The more rolling, crawling and climbing, the better!
3. Try index-finger-pointing activities
Push pop-up toys or other cause/effect buttons on your child’s favorite toys. You can also practice getting them to point to things in their environment.
4. Pulling objects can help your baby work on their pincer grasp
Try any activity that encourages your baby to pull an object out of something else, like towels out of an old wipes container.
5. Pushing objects can support pincer grasp development
Any activity that encourages pushing and weight-bearing through the arms is great in getting baby to develop these important motor skills.
6. Play ball games with your baby
Play with balls of various sizes and textures. Many babies love playing with balls!
Related: Does your child love throwing balls? Read how to end food throwing at meals.
7. Use stickers to help practice motor skills
Does your child love stickers? Practicing pulling off and placing stickers is great practice and usually very motivating for babies and young toddlers.
8. Pom-poms or cotton balls are great tools
Bright, colorful and soft, pom-poms or cotton balls can be fun developmental tools.
To help baby practice their pincer grasp, put pom-poms or cotton balls in a container and have your baby try to pull them out.
9. Play with building blocks and other tube-shaped toys
Tube-shaped toys can help encourage that same “pinching” pattern of holding used in the pincer grasp.
10. Use an egg carton to promote the pincer grasp
Put one item (for instance, one piece of o’s cereal) in an egg carton that has been thoroughly washed in hot, soapy water, and have your baby try to take each piece using their pincer grasp at a time.
When to talk to a pediatrician?
If your baby is making no attempts at a pincer grasp after 12 months of age, it is a good idea to talk to your pediatrician to see if they might need more support or further evaluation.
Related: Can the Division of Responsibility help you feed your child? Learn more.
Feeding babies solid foods
Get more information from our team of experts about feeding babies and starting solids.
Learn the basics of feeding children age 1+ in our toddler feeding course.
Need help correcting picky eating? Download our free picky eater’s guide to learn how to minimize your family’s mealtime stress.
References