A 10-month-old uses her index finger and thumb to pick up pieces of cereal. This is evidence of which grasp development?

A 10-month-old uses her index finger and thumb to pick up pieces of cereal. This is evidence of which grasp development?

• A. A grasp reflex.
• B. Prehension ability.
• C. The parachute reflex.
• D. The pincer grasp.

Answer: (D)

This demonstrates a mature fine-motor skill called the pincer grasp. By about 9 to 12 months, infants move from using the whole hand to a precision grip, bringing the thumb and index finger together to pick up small objects like cereal pieces. This ability supports self-feeding and manipulation of tiny items, reflecting advancing neuromuscular control and hand-eye coordination. The grasp reflex is a primitive response that appears early and usually disappears by a few months of age, so it wouldn’t describe a 10-month-old’s action. Prehension ability is a general term for grasping, but the specific pinch between thumb and index finger is the pincer grasp. The parachute reflex is a protective extension reaction when the child is tipped forward, not related to how objects are grasped.

This demonstrates a mature fine-motor skill called the pincer grasp. By about 9 to 12 months, infants move from using the whole hand to a precision grip, bringing the thumb and index finger together to pick up small objects like cereal pieces. This ability supports self-feeding and manipulation of tiny items, reflecting advancing neuromuscular control and hand-eye coordination.

The grasp reflex is a primitive response that appears early and usually disappears by a few months of age, so it wouldn’t describe a 10-month-old’s action. Prehension ability is a general term for grasping, but the specific pinch between thumb and index finger is the pincer grasp. The parachute reflex is a protective extension reaction when the child is tipped forward, not related to how objects are grasped.