Fine motor skills refers to the coordination of the small muscles of the body. These include the hands, wrists, fingers, feet, toes, lips and tongue. There are two types of motor skills: fine motor and gross motor skills, which are the movements of the larger muscles, whcih include those of the arms, legs and feet. Both fine motor skills and gross motor skills develop over time and build upon one another. Below is a general timeline for fine motor skills development during the first two years of life.
Birth-2 months Babies will extend their arms towards objects but are unable to grasp them. As vision develops, their accuracy improves. When their vision and grasping work together, they can make contact with the desired object.
3-4 Months At this stage, hand-eye coordination begins to develop and babies can sometimes grasp and hold larger objects. Babies may hold and shake a rattle and bring hands together.
4-5 Months Children should be able to sit up now. Babies can begin to transfer larger objects from one hand to the other. They can crumple paper and splash water in the bath.
6 Months Babies can now hold objects with a palmar grasp and are refining their ability to manipulate objects with their hands and mouths. They may grasp at their feet and bring their toes to their mouths.
7-9 Months Children can now successfully grab smaller objects between their thumb and the sides of their forefingers. They should be able to transfer toys from one hand to the other and bang objects on a table. Will often put objects in their mouths.
9-10 Months At this stage, babies begin to develop a pincer grip. This allows them to grip larger objects with all four fingers against the thumb. This is the grasp that the child will use to pick up and drink from a cup. The pincer grasp also allows children to stack and nest objects.
10-12 Months Toward the end of their first year of life, babies can pick up very small objects and begin to use their hands independently of one another. They will also be able to point at objects using their index finger.
12-15 Months Most children will be better able to explore the world around them at this stage. They can roll a ball on the floor and begin using their hands for more than just playing and eating. Toward the end of this period, children will begin to use tools such as cups, spoons and crayons like adults would. This allows them to begin feeding themselves.
15-18 Months At this stage, children can use a crayon to scribble on paper in a more controlled manner. They should also be able to build towers from a few large blocks.
18-21 Months By the end of this period, babies may be able to help dress themselves by manipulating large zippers and buttons.
21-24 Months By the end of their second year, most toddlers can use their hands to unwrap presents and do simple puzzles. They can fold sheets of paper and string large beads. They can build a tower of six to seven blocks and turn doorknobs and unscrew lids. They can wash and dry their hands and have mastered the use of a fork and spoon.
Children continue to develop fine motor skills throughout their childhoods. There are many toys and activities designed to help develop a child's fine motor skills. Parents who are concerned that their child may have a fine motor skills weakness should contact a doctor for an evaluation.
Expecting parents who hope for a specific gender -- and then get the opposite -- can go through real feelings of depression and shame. Credit: sallyrae17, Flickr
Parents wait with bated breath to learn the gender of their unborn baby -- and sometimes, the answer isn't what they wanted to hear. Gender disappointment is a real and often heartbreaking matter for mothers and fathers who had their hearts set on a boy or a girl.
We chatted about this in the office when our colleague, an AOL editor who's expecting his first child, admitted that had his heart set on a girl.
"Everybody in my family has girls," he tells us, preferring to remain anonymous. "I guess we need a boy in the family, but when the doctor told us we were having a boy, I was so disappointed."
Do you think babies' photos should be airbrushed in magazines? Credit: Getty Images
Critics are outraged that some parenting magazines admit to airbrushing images of babies that run on their covers, but industry insiders say that almost every photograph in a magazine is retouched.
The hubbub started when a BBC documentary, My Supermodel Baby, revealed that the publication Practical Parenting and Pregnancyretouched a photograph of 5-month-old baby model Hadley Corbett. According to The Daily Telegraph, the magazine's casting director, who was not named, told filmmakers that the child's image was airbrushed: "We lightened his eyes and his general skin tone, smoothed out any blotches and the creases on his arms. But we want it to look natural."
Hadley's mom, Esther Corbett, tells the Telegraph that she was neither surprised nor offended that her child's image was altered. "You kind of know that they do it because if you look at the front cover of magazines, most of the images don't look really real," she says. "But it didn't put me off."
Plenty of other people are put off, however, and some say that the practice is "shocking."Jo Swinson, a U.K. political leader, campaigns against airbrushing in magazines. "People will be appalled that a magazine would not think images of beautiful healthy babies are alright as they are and instead have to conform to some standard," she tells the Telegraph. "The idea that babies must look more perfect – that they can't have creases in their skin – shows the obsession with a particular ideal. Where does this end?"
"You will have parents thinking, my baby isn't attractive enough, how do I make my baby more attractive?" she says.
Industry insiders who have worked with children in media say that retouching photographs -- of everything and everyone -- is standard operating procedure at most publications and is in no way sinister. A friend who has a long resume working with children's publications tells me that the goal is to improve the likeness by adjusting the color, lighting and yes, getting rid of drool or flyaway hairs.
With photo-editing software and services readily available today, plenty of parents are doing the same thing with their private snapshots. I'm not above editing out the chocolate smears on my kids' faces to get the perfect holiday card, and I don't think I'm alone.
Babies learn accents in the womb. Credit: jupiterimages
Have you ever heard a baby cry with a German accent?
You can -- if you listen hard enough, said Kathleen Wermke of the University of Würzberg in Germany to the BBC. She led a research project which concluded that infants pick up the nuances of their mothers' accents, even while in the womb.
Researchers studied the cries of 60 healthy babies born to families speaking German and French. Wermke told the BBC that they could detect the French babies crying with a rising accent while German babies cried with a falling accent.
Wermke added that the research, which was published in the journal Current Biology, is more than just a slightly interesting curiosity. It suggests that human beings are influenced by the first sounds that penetrate the womb. Scientists already knew that unborn children could memorize sounds from the outside world in the last trimester of pregnancy, especially music and voices.
A normal pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks. If a baby is born three or more weeks early, she is considered premature. Babies born close to 37 weeks usually do not have many problems, but babies born between 32 and 37 weeks may need to stay in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to receive help eating, breathing, staying warm, and continuing to develop before going home. Babies born before 32 weeks are the most likely to have serious problems and may have to stay in the NICU for an extended period of time.
Preterm babies must often be tube-fed or even fed intravenously (through a vein) because they cannot eat on their own. Others need ventilators to help them breathe. Premature babies also can have difficulties staying warm, so they are kept in heated beds called isolettes.
A neonatologist is a doctor who specializes caring for preterm babies. If the hospital you choose to deliver your baby at has a NICU on-site, you will be introduced to the staff neonatologist. If your baby needs to be moved to another hospital, you can ask your ob/gyn for a reference or you can find a doctor on the Revolution Health web site.
Holiday travel is hard enough, but traveling for the holidays with your kids in tow is enough to make the most patient parent want to run away from home. Here's a rundown of ten great pieces of travel gear to help you keep your cool, whether you're traveling by plane, train or automobile.
Moms and Dads who travel by air may want to invest in the CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) harness. The harness is made especially for airplanes, and is the only restraint certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. It's a lot more portable than dragging your car seat aboard that commuter jet, and it leaves your hands free to deal with any child-induced turbulence.
Available at BuyBuy Baby, the CARES system retails for $74.99.
CARES
There's one in every family – the wanderer. Airports and rest areas are irresistible for curious little explorers. If your kid likes to wander off in crowded places, give yourself peace of mind with the 411 Wristband from Mabel's Labels. The custom-printed paper bracelets include your child's first name, your first name, cell-phone number and any special needs your kid might have. Bonus – 10 percent of the profits from this item are donated to Autism Speaks.
Available at Mabel's Labels, $21 for a pack of 30 completely customizable wristbands.
Mabel's Labels
Getting stuck at the airport is every parent's nightmare, but even a late-night delay can be bearable if you remember to bring My NapPak. Created by a mom who couldn't find a good nap mat for her son's day care naptime, My NapPak is a cushy mat with an attached pillow and blanket. The whole kit and caboodle rolls up into a nice, neat little package, making it perfect for the overhead bin or for squeezing into a packed-to-the-gills minivan. My NapPak also makes a great solution when there aren't enough beds at Grandma's house.
Nothing says road trip like eight hours of Miley Cyrus. Don't despair. Buy your kid these pint-sized headphones and navigate the open road in blissful silence. Made by Kidz Gear, these headphones have the high-quality components of standard adult audio gear, but are sized just for the wee ones. Use them for MP3 players, portable DVD players and gaming systems.
Forget that ratty old backpack. Pack your kid's road-trip essentials in the Trunki. This adorable, hard-sided case has all the features a little explorer needs: A teddy-bear seat belt to stop toys from tumbling around, an internal pouch for those tiny doll shoes and a fixed strap that can't get lost. The Trunki is great for air travel, since kids can sit or ride on the closed case, resting their little legs when the check-in line is particularly long. It can also be easily carried on Mom or Dad's shoulder.
Crayons get lost – or in some cases eaten – when you're traveling a long distance. Avoid the tears and the digestive upsets by investing in the Fisher-Price Doodle Pro Tag-Along. This small-scale version of the classic magnetic drawing toy is just the right size for small laps and carry-on luggage. Here's a tip: Surprise your child with it just before you leave the house and keep your little travel companion very happy, and very occupied.
Space-challenged parents rejoice. The Easy Fold Baby Bed by Kushies is a great alternative to the heavy portable crib. Made of lightweight fabric, the bed folds up and fits inside a standard-sized suitcase. The padded liner and UV protected fabric make it extra comfortable and safe for baby. Use it for naptime, bedtime or even playtime, indoors and out.
How would you like it if someone stuck a freezing-cold bottle of milk in your mouth? So why would you do that to your baby? Now you don't have to, thanks to Baby Goga Baby Bottle Warmers. This cool gadget heats up in 10 minutes, and all you have to do is flex the metal disk inside the warmer. It never gets too hot, and can be recharged by placing it in boiling water and letting it cool down again. It's small enough to fit in a diaper bag, and can also be used to soothe your aching back after hauling the kids through the airport or driving for 500 miles.
Grown-ups know how hard it is to sleep in a strange bed, so why not make it easier for your baby? A little white noise or soothing music helps little ones ease into dreamland, but it's hard to fit a bulky machine or CD player in a suitcase. The Sleep Sheep & Friends On The Go collection from Cloud B is the perfect solution. The small-scale stuffed animals have a sound box that plays lullabies and peaceful nature sounds, like falling rain and a heart beating. Use the Velcro tab to attach the cute animal to a car seat, stroller or portable crib.
Traveling is fun, no doubt about it, but it can disrupt a family's routines. Keep your bedtime rituals intact no matter where you roam, and consider the Carry Me Everywhere Suitcase from Haydenburri Lane. This cute suitcase comes with five sweet finger puppets, a fleece-and-satin blankie and a "Bedtime Safari" storybook. It keeps little hands and minds busy, and provides a complete routine for getting your child to bed.
Elimination communication (EC) is a type of potty training that goes back to time immemorial because one of its goals is to forgo diapers altogether. Here's how it works: When a parent or caregiver knows or feels that the baby needs to go, he or she removes the diaper or clothing and holds the infant over a toilet or other appropriate receptacle. Because the baby is pre-verbal --i.e., parents are starting this early after their child's birth -- way before most parents think about potty training -- caregivers need to be on the alert for body language cues, patterns (e.g., after a feeding or a waking), intuition or simply by the clock.
EC training can begin as early as birth but can also start in later infancy or during the toddler years. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics believes there is no set age at which toilet training should begin, they do say that children younger than 12 months have no control over bladder or bowel movements.
EC's rising popularity is certainly influences by the economy (diapers are expensive) and environmental concerns (diapers are not biodegradable), but it's also a natural extension of a common practice called attachment parenting.
We watched it once, and then a second time just listened to the music without the benefit of the adorable video. There's no doubt in our minds that this would do well at a dance club. And the child-free hipsters would never know they were being entertained by the babies.
Thanks to Eclectic Method for this fun piece of creativity. We look forward to Part 2.
Jude Law's baby daughter Sophia has had her first taste of what her life will be like - she nabbed the front cover of a magazine at the tender age of one month.
Sophia's mother, model Samantha Burke, reckons the baby looks like her Hollywood star father.
She says the baby has Jude's "pout."
The 25-year-old model got pregnant during a "fling" with Jude after they met at a nightclub.
Samantha has also been telling Hello! magazine about their first encounter.
She said: "I instantly knew who he was, but he seemed really funny - he was cracking jokes with people and he included me in that. The next thing I knew I was on the pavement outside, being twirled around - it was a lot of fun. Following that initial meeting, Jude and I went out several times. He was a lot of fun to be around, always making me laugh."
All new moms are warned about the dangers of germs when it comes to their newborn babies.
We're told to get flu shots; make sure everyone who touches baby washes his or her hands first; and to avoid taking newborns to church, restaurants, the mall or anywhere he's in danger of catching a cold,flu or worse.
One Utah mom keeps people from touching her newborn triplets with Hands off Baby stop signs that can be hung from infant carriers warning, "Wash hands before touching baby."
Germ-phobes can also buy don't-touch-me bibs,onesies,T-shirts and more, in hopes of keeping baby-loving strangers from getting too close.
The Philadelphia Phillies aren't the only ones who got lucky yesterday as they advanced into the World Series for the second straight year -- fans of the 2008 World Series champs are having a mini baby boom and naming their newborns after the home team players.
St. Mary's Medical Center in Bucks County, Pa., reported that Chase, Shane and Ryan are the preferred monikers for babies born in recent months, and that the trend started in August -- nine months after the Phillies took home the 2008 pennant.
New mom Anna Frymier told NBC Philadelphia that her daughter, Chayse, is named after second-baseman Chase Utley. The entire family is made up of die-hard fans, she added, and Chayse's grandfather played for the Minor League team, the Reading Phillies.
Nurse Patty Crocker told the station that the home team's championship lit romantic fires with some of the hospital's patients. "It appears that St. Mary dads were hitting home runs along with the Phillies," she said.
The team was tickled by the trend, and even sent a box of rally towels to the hospital.
Just a warning to hometown fans out there: If the Phillies clinch the series, watch out -- there may be a new little person in your future nine months from now.
Fashion designer Stella McCartney. Credit: Michel Euler, AP
Sorry, Moms. This one is going to make you jealous.
Do you want to know a secret? Sorry, we just couldn't help ourselves, but it's really no secret at all. The Gap has been making high-end designer labels affordable by collaborating with the likes of Rodarte, Alexander Wang, Philip Lim and others in recent years. And, now, your little ones get the chance to be as stylish as Suri Cruise, when Stella McCartney's collection for GapKids and babyGap launches next month.
A new study indicates that parents who drink and co-sleep with their babies may increase the risk for SIDS. Credit: digimist, Flickr
The risk factors for SIDS are more subtle and varied than once thought, according to a new study, and may include co-sleeping with a parent who recently consumed alcohol.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, followed all babies born in a southwest region of England from 2003 to 2006, in order to identify common circumstance and behaviors involved in SIDS deaths. ABC News reported that researchers found a higher SIDS risk when babies are co-sleeping with a parent who had recently consumed alcohol.
Twins have greater health risks than single births. Credit: mharvey75, Flickr
A twin pregnancy is a great thing: You get two babies with only one round of morning sickness, weight gain, swollen ankles and childbirth. That's how many women see it.
But twin, triplet and other multiple pregnancies come with an increased risk of premature birth, health problems, learning disabilities and other complications, not to mention the high financial cost of treating these moms and babies. And according to a report in The New York Times, doctors are now trying to curtail the increase in premature births spurred on by fertility treatments.
Ten surrogate mothers in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Credit: Shailesh Raval, The India Today Group / Getty Images
Couples having trouble conceiving are increasingly looking outside of the United States. One popular destination is India.
Hey, it worked for corporate America. Why not parents?
Actually, according to a story in The Wall Street Journal, one reason couples are choosing the South Asian country is very much the same as the reason why you are usually calling overseas when you call customer service -- cost. One couple profiled in the article was able to try surrogacy three different times for about $50,000, roughly a third of the cost had they tried in the U.S.
A number of Indian companies currently offer surrogacy services. Some, like The Center for Human Reproduction, are marketing themselves to same-sex couples. The Journal quotes one gay Massachusetts father who said that he and his partner chose India because the country "had better infrastructure, more high-tech facilities and the healthier lifestyle." Also, he said, the women there mostly "don't smoke, they don't drink and they don't do drugs."
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Jude Law
