Use Your Hands

It takes a long time—and lots of practice—for babies to learn to use their hands. Use these ideas during everyday routines to help babies get the practice they need:

Feeding time

Let a baby help you hold her bottle. As her grasp gets stronger, gently release your grasp.
Offer a baby finger foods, such as pieces of banana or dry cereal. Put a few pieces at a time on her eating tray. Move them farther apart to make it easier for her to pick them up.
Offer older babies new challenges, such as picking up cooked spaghetti or finding soft green peas “hiding” in a blob of mashed potatoes.

Changing time

Keep board books and washable toys near the changing table. Let a baby watch as you pass a toy back and forth, up and down, etc. Offer it to her to see if she copies you. Talk about what she does.
Play a clapping or finger counting game such as “Pat-a-Cake” or “1-2-3-4-5 Little Fingers.” Make it a fun everyday routine.
Look at a book together after changing a baby. Help her fold all her fingers but the index finger and point at pictures or characters. Help her turn the pages.

Playtime

Turn household objects and baby toys into games. Can a baby put a plastic ring on her hand? A lid on a pot? One measuring cup into another?
Put window clings on a window and let babies pull them off.

Blow bubbles and challenge older babies pop them with one finger.