A 3-month-old born at 38 weeks will hold a rattle if placed in her hands but will not voluntarily grasp it. The nurse should interpret this as:

A 3-month-old born at 38 weeks will hold a rattle if placed in her hands but will not voluntarily grasp it. The nurse should interpret this as:

• A. Significant developmental lag.
• B. Slightly delayed development caused by prematurity.
• C. Suggestive of a neurologic disorder such as cerebral palsy.
• D. Normal development.

Answer: (D)

This scenario illustrates the shift from reflexive to voluntary fine motor control in infancy. At about 3 months, a baby still demonstrates the palmar grasp reflex when an object is placed in the palm, so she can hold a rattle if it’s positioned in her hand. However, the ability to grasp objects voluntarily—reaching out and grabbing on her own—usually develops a bit later, around 4 to 6 months. So not yet having a voluntary grasp at 3 months is typical for a term infant. This pattern does not indicate a neurologic disorder or a delay from prematurity, given the baby was born at 38 weeks. If there were no reflexive grasp when an object is placed, or if other signs such as poor tone or persistent abnormal reflexes were present, that would be more concerning.

This scenario illustrates the shift from reflexive to voluntary fine motor control in infancy. At about 3 months, a baby still demonstrates the palmar grasp reflex when an object is placed in the palm, so she can hold a rattle if it’s positioned in her hand. However, the ability to grasp objects voluntarily—reaching out and grabbing on her own—usually develops a bit later, around 4 to 6 months. So not yet having a voluntary grasp at 3 months is typical for a term infant. This pattern does not indicate a neurologic disorder or a delay from prematurity, given the baby was born at 38 weeks. If there were no reflexive grasp when an object is placed, or if other signs such as poor tone or persistent abnormal reflexes were present, that would be more concerning.