A 9-month-old infant is assessed for fine motor development. The infant can rake small objects with fingers but cannot yet pick up a small pellet between the thumb and index finger using a neat pincer grasp. By what age should the mature pincer grasp normally be achieved?
- A By 6 months
- B By 10 to 12 months ✓
- C By 9 months
- D By 15 months
Correct answer: B. By 10 to 12 months
Explanation
The mature pincer grasp, where the infant picks up a small object between the tip of the thumb and index finger, develops by 10 to 12 months. Before this, the crude raking grasp is seen at 7 to 8 months. The pincer grasp requires coordination of fine motor skills and corticospinal tract maturation. Absence beyond 12 months may indicate neurological impairment. This milestone is a key component of the Denver Developmental Screening Test.
Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.
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