My Baby Isn't Raking at Small Objects
The short answer
The raking grasp (using fingers to sweep small objects toward the palm) typically develops around 6-8 months. This is a precursor to the pincer grasp. If your baby cannot rake small objects by 9 months, mention it to your pediatrician. Most babies are still using a whole-hand or palmar grasp at 6 months.
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By Age
What to expect by age
Babies at this age use a palmar grasp, wrapping their whole hand around objects. They cannot yet pick up small items. This is completely normal. The raking motion develops next as your baby gains more finger control.
The raking grasp should emerge during this period. Your baby will use their fingers to sweep small items like cereal into their palm. It looks messy and imprecise, and that is perfectly normal. This is an important step toward the pincer grasp.
Your baby should be raking at small objects and may be starting to develop a crude pincer grasp (using thumb and side of index finger). If your baby shows no raking ability, discuss it with your pediatrician.
The raking grasp should have transitioned to a pincer grasp by now. If your baby is still unable to pick up small objects at all, fine motor evaluation is recommended.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby is under 8 months and uses a whole-hand grasp.
- Your baby rakes messily but is getting food or objects.
- Your baby is developing the raking grasp but is not yet precise.
- Your baby was premature and is on adjusted age timeline.
- Your baby is over 9 months and cannot rake or pick up small objects.
- Your baby shows no interest in small objects.
- Your baby cannot bring hands to midline to grasp.
- Your baby has lost grasp abilities they previously had.
- Your baby's hands seem weak or unable to function.
Sources
Related Resources
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician.
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Related Physical Concerns
Delayed Pincer Grasp Development
The pincer grasp - using the thumb and index finger to pick up small objects - typically develops between 8 and 12 months. Before this, babies use a raking motion or whole-hand grasp, which is perfectly normal. Every baby develops this skill at their own pace, and some take until closer to 12 months to master it.
Baby Not Grasping Objects
Babies develop voluntary grasping gradually over the first several months. Most babies begin reaching for objects around 3 to 4 months and develop a reliable grasp by 5 to 6 months. If your baby is under 4 months and not yet grabbing things, this is completely expected and normal.
My Baby Has Overall Fine Motor Delays
Fine motor skills develop gradually from grasping rattles to using a pincer grip to scribbling and stacking. If your child seems behind in multiple fine motor areas, an occupational therapy evaluation can identify specific areas to work on. Many fine motor delays respond very well to targeted therapy and practice.
My Baby Seems to Use One Side More Than the Other
Babies should use both sides of their body fairly equally during the first 18 months of life. While slight preferences can be normal, a consistent pattern of favoring one side - using one arm much more than the other, crawling with one leg dragging, or turning the head predominantly one way - should always be discussed with your pediatrician. Early identification of asymmetry leads to the best outcomes.
My Baby Only Army Crawls
Army crawling (also called commando crawling) is a completely valid and normal way for babies to move. Many babies army crawl for weeks or even months before transitioning to hands-and-knees crawling, and some skip hands-and-knees crawling entirely. What matters is that your baby is independently mobile and exploring their environment.
One Side of My Baby's Body Moves Differently
Babies should generally use both sides of their body equally. If one side consistently moves differently, is weaker, stiffer, or less coordinated, this warrants evaluation. Asymmetric movement can indicate hemiplegia (cerebral palsy affecting one side), brachial plexus injury, or other neurological conditions that benefit from early therapy.