when should baby start to hold/grab?

[gingernutlover]

It's just that my dd is 15wks and still has her fists closed most of the time - my mum keeps remarking that this is a problem.

Also My sister in law has ds who is a month older and he was holding toys grabbing and putting hands out to accept toys from about 3 months.

I know they all develope at different rates but would like to know when I should get worried

I can't quite remember but I think DS was about 12wks when he started to grab/hold things.

It's true that they all develop at their own pace and 15wks isn't that much older than 12wks. Also, I do think that boys do the physical things earlier. That's been my experience in our ante-natal group anyway. DS was crawling at 6mths and my friend's little girl was just learning to roll yet her vocalising was much better than DS's. They're much of a muchness on both now.

However, it is a problem if it's worrying you. Speak to your HV who should be able to put your mind at rest. Try not to let it spoil your first Christmas together.

I know a little boy who didn't reach out to touch toys, let alone grab them, until he was over four months old. He's perfectly fine. Please don't worry.

My Ds 'batted' at things around 12 weeks, but didnt real 'hold' or 'grab' until 14-15 wks. I really wouldnt worry.
I used to try and encourage him by opening his hand to give him toys and 'clapping' his hands together!

thanks, I do feel better. I have tried to practice holding with her but she seems uninterested at the mo, today though I noticed she is kind of grabbing at her clothes to try to bring them to her mouth so maybe that is the start of it.

Thank you for making me feel better about it.

gingernut, my ds is 20 weeks and though he will bat quite happily at his babygym and if you put something in his hand he will hold it (but only for a second), he does not reach out for things, even if you hold them right in front of him.

However, he can take his own weight on his feet for several minutes at a time and sit unaided. I'm not worried (yet!) because I think he is putting his energy and concentration into these skills rather than reaching out. I will keep it under review though.

DS's didn't grab until much later- it sepends on the child.

It varied between 3 weeks and 3 months (approx) for my children. dd1's little hands werent very strong I think, and as far as I remember, she also used to keep them clamped tight shut as well. (and full of grey fluff)

My dd didn't untuck her thumbs until at least 5 months. We saw the gp and he said that her muscle tone was fine. She continued to bat at things, rather than try and grab them until about 7 months. We were referred to the consultant, but by the time we were seen (9 months), she had started using her thumbs a bit more.

At 13 months, she's now absolutely fine - able to pick up raisins and peas!

If you are concerned, go and see your gp - but as others have said, they all develop at different rates.

DS2 was born with thumbs tucked in and didn't open, this was spotted by the Dr who did baby check. We were refered to physio, as the thumbs did open if you did it for him they said there wqas no point in physio but continued to monitor him about every 6 weeks until 4 months when they refered to consultant. They did a development check and he seemed ok for everything else so they just encouraged us to keep offering things to hold, he probably opened his hands and started using them at about 6 months. He is 15 months now and perfectly capable of doing everything he should and lots he shouldn't