When do children grab their feet?
Infant's grasping feet is an activity that occurs between 5 and 6 months of a child's life. For this to happen the child must first:
- build symmetry,
- be able to lie stably on their back,
- achieve head control,
- be able to do antigravity work with arms and legs
- be able to grasp in the middle line of the body
As the child grows, he or she becomes interested in his or her torso and limbs and becomes familiar with the scheme of his or her body. In order for the child to be able to reach with his hands, the spine must be straight along its entire length and the shoulder blades and pelvis must be firmly on the ground. When lifting the arms up, the humerus sets in external rotation. The same happens with the femur at the hip joint, flexion abduction and external rotation is the best position for the correct development of the hip joints. The knees are bent and the feet position themselves in supination, or inversion. It is important that the child is able to grasp both feet, rather than always reaching for oneThis is because it is then constantly shortening one side and lengthening the other. The moment of putting the feet into the mouth is when the pattern of this movement has been optimally developed.
IMPORTANT: If a child grasps only one foot - this may indicate trunk asymmetry and the need to physiotherapy for infants.
Why does the child grab his feet?
The appearance of this skill in a child's development, tells us that the extensor muscles and flexor muscles work well together in the child. This skill is the basis for the next stages of development, such as sitting and walking.
The simultaneous positioning of the hips in external rotation and the feet in supination directly influences foot and hip development and prepares the feet for loading.
Putting feet in mouth under visual control by a toddler is also to develop hand-leg-mouth and eye-hand-foot coordination. A very difficult thing 🙂
By touching and placing his feet in his mouth, the child "de-sensitises" them, i.e. prepares them for walking. By touching his hands, he stimulates the sole of the foot, which in future will help him to put his foot on the ground without any discomfort. Otherwise, the child will curl his toes or stand on his toes, which will be indicative of hypersensitive feet.
This seemingly easy activity, is very important for the fate of our child's feet.
Does the child need to grasp the feet?
Yes, every child should grasp their feet. They don't have to do it often and for a long time, but they should have this skill so that the hip joints and the arches of the foot are properly developed.
When is it a good idea to see a paediatric physiotherapist?
Newborn:
- if his legs are inactive and constantly lying on the ground
- if his legs appear stiff and tight
- if you have the impression that one or both feet are malpositioned
2,3 months of baby's life:
- if the child is unable to lift both legs at the same time above the ground (even for a moment)
- if one of the legs appears significantly more limp or stiff
- if one of the legs appears less active
5,6 months of a child's life:
- if the child cannot touch his/her knees with his/her hands
7 months of a child's life:
- if the child does not grasp his feet
- if the child grasps only one foot
Why does a child grab toys with their feet?
Because this is the natural stage of development that follows shortly after the feet grasp. In the beginning, the feet develop a grasping function in addition to their supporting function. In order for the child to be able to walk, the grasping activity of the feet must disappear. But first, around 6-7 months of age, the child discovers the ability to grasp with his feet. He helps himself to grasp large toys that are difficult for him to hold with his hands alone. During this activity, the child loads the lateral edges of the feet and relieves the medial ones. Grasping feet, putting feet in mouth and grasping objects are successive skills that have a significant impact on the correct foot development.
The grasping of the feet is great fun for children, a sweet sight for parents and, for the physiotherapist, a very important aspect in a child's development. From the way a child grasps his or her feet, the specialist is able to assess many factors that contribute to success in the later stages of a child's life.
1. Pelvic positioning indirect, anterior tilt, posterior tilt or oblique - will affect the alignment of the spine.
2. Flexion, abduction and external rotation at the hip joint - will affect the alignment of the pelvis, spine and feet.
3. Flexion, external rotation at shoulder joint and stabilised scapula will affect the child's hand positioning and the quality of his or her grip and precision movements.
4. SupinationThe inversion of the feet during the handgrip influences the structures of the foot and has an impact on the functional length, width and height of the foot arch, i.e. it prevents flat feet and valgus.
5. Eye-hand foot coordination, i.e. eye-hand coordination develops mainly in infancy and is a complex cognitive and motor skill. It requires the child to guide his hands in accordance with the stimuli his eyes receive. The development of eye-hand coordination is invaluable for a child's normal development and learning skills. In the future, it influences activities such as kicking, catching a ball or learning at school.
Grasping the feet - doubts
In conclusion - the quality of a child's foot grip is also important. If you have any doubts as to whether your child is doing this correctly, it is advisable to seek advice from paediatric physiotherapistwhich will dispel all your doubts.
Anna Bernaś
Paediatric physiotherapist
