When Your Child’s Little Hand Grabs Your Finger

It is often said that it is the little things in life that count the most. And for parents, one of the most magical and unforgettable moments is when their newborn baby grabs his finger for the first time and holds on tight with his little hand.

Our fascination knows no bounds – for the rest of our lives – over this instinctive gesture. It is a beginning that no parent can forget. It evokes emotions and grabs us forever.

It is as if our baby recognizes us as part of his life and says, ” Now I have you, now you are my mother, now you are my father “.

And all we can do is surrender to the obvious. The strap has been tied and it can never be broken…

Once upon a time there was a small hand…

Once upon a time, there was strength, life and fear in a small hand that sought refuge in yours.

All we need to do is place our finger in the palm of our hand on our newborn baby’s hand. Then it will take hold immediately, at once, to calm down and feel safe.

We are a part of them, and the little, little creatures are a part of us…

Grabbing with your hand is a reflex in infants

No emotional value can be removed from this gesture when we say that this action is a natural reflex. It is an instinct inherited from our ancestors.

Through this quick reflex that makes our newborns grasp everything that touches their hands, our babies feel safe.

In fact, they grip so strongly that we can set them up and lift them while still holding on to our fingers.

• It is natural, and it is something that the doctors themselves examine in newborns along with their other reflexes. All these reflexes are undoubtedly necessary for their development.

• In fact, these reflexes soon disappear as the baby’s brain develops. The brain matures and allows the baby to grasp things with intention and greater precision.

Holding your baby’s little hand during these first months is something that is recommended

It is very common for mothers to hold the little hand while breastfeeding, so that their children can hug their mother’s finger.

During the first months of life, it is common to see that children always have their fists clenched.

But over time, you will notice wonderful changes. For example, your baby no longer squeezes as hard. Sometimes it can even shake or bend your fingers when you offer it something to grip.

We should try to continue this stimulus when we take their little hands every time we breastfeed or bathe them. In this way, this good habit can undoubtedly contribute positively to their development.

By the eighth month, children are already aware of their hands

As the more sophisticated eye-hand coordination develops, you will notice that the behavior changes. By the eighth or ninth month, your baby will no longer let his hands rest still.

It is now that our children begin to pull us by the hair and suddenly want to grab everything and everyone who passes in front of their eyes and who catches their attention.

At this stage, they are no longer content to simply keep things. They love things that sound and make sounds.

They love that mom or dad gestures with their hands while communicating with them, singing for them and whispering to them…

It is a remarkable time when children are receptive to a lot of stimuli. Soon they will further refine their tweezers grip. They then use their thumb and forefinger to develop and improve their fine motor skills.

Our hands are a path to our emotions, a kind of magical language

Knowing our partner’s outstretched hand that offers support, affection, understanding, love… With our grandparents’ hand in ours when we help them walk or when we talk to them to show them that we are close…

All this gives rise to a series of positive emotions that strengthen the bonds between us and build meaningful relationships. We also get a sense of humanity where we recognize and care for each other.

To touch is to feel. To touch the people who are important to us is to validate them with love and recognize them as special beings in our hearts.

Therefore, we should never neglect the importance of this language when dealing with our children.

What started as a story of magical and enormous love when you first felt that the little hand grabbed yours with so much strength, can not end there.

It’s just the beginning of a long story of tenderness, attention, play, flipping through a book, walking hand in hand…

Without a doubt, we will enjoy and value these moments. These moments are invaluable.