Cognitive & Motor Skill Development

Your baby is 37 weeks old today problem solving through cause and effect is taking shape.  Something as simple as pressing a toy piano key and producing a sound or squeezing a doll that makes music both reinforce your baby’s action.  Thus, your baby understands that when he does something (presses a key or squeezes a doll), a desired goal is achieved.  Another cognitive development you will see is your baby finding a toy that is hidden.  If you show your baby a small colorful ball, for example, and hide it under a small towel, your baby will take off the towel to reveal the ball.  I first started seeing my son’s understanding of cause and effect whenever I carried him into various rooms of our home.  He realized that when I pressed the light switch, the light turned on or off and he was so curious about it.  He smiled so big whenever he pounded on the switch to turn the light on/off.

As your baby sits independently, he is now able to get from a sitting position to crawling.  This development makes him that much more mobile and it’s easier for your baby to get to something he wants, usually that is you!  It may seem like this is a small development, but it takes motor planning and coordination from your baby to achieve this.

Another motor skill development you will see is your baby using an inferior pincer grasp.  The inferior pincer grasp is defined as a very small object, pellet for example, held between the ventral surfaces (flat surfaces) of the index finger and thumb.  Your baby will use this grasp to pick up small objects and even food.  My son used the inferior pincer grasp for some time to pick up small pieces of bread to eat and it was difficult for him, but he managed to bring it to his mouth.