Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

At what age is the pincher grasp typically developed in infants?

1. 3 months

2. 6 months

3. 9 months

4. 12 months

The correct answer is: 9 months

The development of the pincer grasp typically occurs around 9 months of age in infants. At this stage, children have enhanced finger dexterity and coordination, allowing them to grasp smaller objects between their thumb and forefinger. This motor skill is crucial as it marks a significant milestone in fine motor development and indicates that the child is exploring their environment more actively. During the earlier months, such as at 3 or 6 months, infants are still refining their gross motor skills and may rely more on a whole-hand grasp or raking motion rather than the precise pinching motion that characterizes the pincer grasp. By 12 months, many infants have fully developed this skill and may even begin to use it more reliably, alongside other developmental milestones, but the fundamental grasping ability itself is established by 9 months.