Gross/Fine Motor Skills: Our Little Baby Ninja

Babies develop from the top down, which is why they get head control first, followed by being able to control their arms and lastly learning to walk.

It's a fascinating process to watch develop, particularly because I'm thinking in my head, "Well, he's getting more myelinated connections in his descending corticospinal tract!"

I'm sure most moms think that.

Anyway, when Logan came home, he was the limpest of noodles. You definitely had to have a hand under his head and under his butt, otherwise, when you picked him up, you were in danger of leaving his relatively heavy head on the table. Since a headless baby is not what we were aiming for, we were very careful about getting a good grip on both ends.

Now, 10 weeks later, you still need to support his head coming up, but I find that a single finger at the base of his skull is enough support for him to keep it following his body. Also, when you cuddle him (so he's chest to chest with you, head at your shoulder) he clearly keeps his head upright, looking around with blatant curiosity (and distrust....)

We've started doing some limited tummy time, and he can pick his up for short periods of time, although he does get quite annoyed doing it. We'll begin increasing the time of this, because being able to hold his head up, push his chest up and roll from tummy to back is part of his development.

We've introduced his play yard, (check out the video in his Google+ album) he's good at punching and kicking, often striking the targets he's looking at. He's begun bringing his hands to his mouth, and a few times, he's brought his hand up to cling to his pacifier (and sometimes just putting his hand in his mouth to suck on.)

Even since that video was taken, two weeks ago, his aim is more on-target, and he clearly gets a charge out of the rattle of the toys when he successfully hits one.

I've also noticed that when I hold him in cuddle time, he's now gripping my hair or my shirt. I'm really waiting for him to start holding his arms up to be picked up and/or cuddled.

He loves to kick his legs but hasn't reached the stage where he wants to stand up, although he does periodically support his own weight (obviously with us holding him) for about a second before collapsing.

In another three months or so, he should hopefully begin sitting up on his own, which will make life a little bit easier, but a little bit more difficult as well. But, as I'm learning, this is pretty much the rule with every new ability. As they become able to do more and more, they require more and more vigilance.


We've got a while until he's mobile, at which time, our house will transform into the most fascinating and dangerous playground the world has ever seen. The dog and cat will learn and learn quickly to hide (or at least keep their tails out of his way.)