when do babies hold rattles etc?

[nicksi27]

Hi ladies over the past few weeks my ds has started trying to touch things in front of him and tries to shuffle them to his mouth but he cant actually grasp them properly to be able to hold them. Is this normal for his age (hes nearly 20 weeks).

Just wondering at what age they actually reach for and hold something you offer them? He curls his fingers and strokes things but doesnt hold them properly x

 

[shelx]

My oldest LO i have pictures of him holding things when he was about 13 weeks. All babies are different x

 

[SaraEmily]

Eliza started holding and shaking toys around 3-4 months but only if I put them in her hand. She didn't reach for anything until 5 months.

 

[cupcaker]

My son did hold things that were given to him relatively early on, can't remember specifically the age but it DID depend on the toy too. He was much better at gripping say, his sophie the giraffe toy, as it is ergonomic and the rubber was just easier somehow. Other toys got dropped right away. I thought his ring shaped light weight rattle would be a breeze and ended up being one of the hardest to hold somehow. He reaches for stuff now and has for a while but then he's 6 months. Brings them up to his mouth etc or fiddles and shakes.

 

[ruby09]

It will probably be soon. I think it was around 4 months-ish that my son started holding objects, but as a pp said, it depended on the toy and the weight of it. They will really surprise you how quick they learn things though. One day out of the blue he will just pick up a toy and fling it all around and you'll wonder how he learned it.

 

[StaceyKor]

Just checked back photos and the first one i have of her holding a toy she was 7 weeks old and the next one she was 10 weeks so around 2 months-ish. All babies are different though...she didnt make any attempts to babble until 8 months x

 

[Indi84]

Think my lo started early, around 3 months? He's always been good with his hands and got the pincher grip early too..now if only he'd talk!

 

[Peggy O]

Lily was 4 months old when she started to grab.

 

[Taurus8484]

In the last couple of weeks. Coincided with the dreaded 4 month sleep regression.

 

[minties]

Thomas did it really young, at 6 weeks he started trying to touch thing and managed to grasp a hanging toy at 9 weeks. He was always in a hurry. Sophie started batting at toys at 12 weeks and grasping them a few days later.

I think the 'usual' age is 3-5 months but with babies everything varies so much, you can't say when they should be doing these things. 20 weeks sounds great, well done to your LO.

As an example of the wide differences in babies, Thomas was rolling extremely well both ways at 13 weeks. When did Sophie roll? Not until 9 months! 6 Months later than Thomas did. Both with the same parenting styles applied and same encouragement.

 

[optimistic1]

Nadia started to swat at things around 11 weeks and within 2-3 weeks she started grabbing and holding things. Now if I lay a toy on her tummy she'll pick it up and chew on it. It does depend on the toy though. She won't pick up her teether but she will pick up her wubanub but she loves chewing on her wubanub.

If lo is starting to swat you'll notice gradually that he'll start gripping things you put in his hands for a few seconds and eventually minutes. May want to try a variety of toys in case he has a preference.

 

[katsbump]

Around 13 weeks she started to consistently hold little soft books and things but was batting at her sheep before 10 weeks. I think that's all fine what you mention as that's how she started soon it too. The small soft books were really good for grabbing, we found. Also, as with the sheep, it was something that she really loved and would always keep her attention so if you're trying to encourage it use favourite toys.

 

[maggie111]

Can you mention it to your health visitor if you're concerned? Does he grab your finger?

I kind if taught my baby at a young age - the thinner the better for him to grab with his fingers. Things like these will be great to grab and learn eventually to bring to his mouth, it's similar to what I used the first time. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28117045...ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=54&ff19=0

At first, I held it right up to his hand and pushed it in till he gripped it. And flung it and whacked himself in the head with it obviously. After he got the knack of "taking it" I held it right up in his line of sight then brought it to next to his hand so he could see the hand, and the ring and then his little fingers came out to hold it. Hold your nerve and don't move it at all! Let him finger out how to touch it. Once he was almost there I did twist it slightly so it could fit better into his grip sometimes.

Watching other people give him something I'm amazed at the amount of people who have no patience and put it into his hands so even if you are trying, maybe his grandparents etc aren't encouraging him to learn?

 

[Mum2BKW]

Scarlett was swatting things at 6/7 weeks and grabbing at 8/9. She grabs the tags on her taggy blankie and anything slim enough for her to get her little hands around

 

[xsadiex]

I don't really think you can teach them, they just do things in their own time so don't feel bad!!!
I have never really encouraged my son and he started reaching for things when he was 6-8 weeks I think x