At what age can a child usually pick up objects with their hand using a raking motion?

In typical child development, the ability to pick up objects using a raking motion generally emerges around 7 to 8 months of age. By this age, infants develop the motor skills needed to use their fingers in a less refined way than later stages of grasping. The raking motion involves using the fingers to pull an object toward oneself, often seen as a precursor to more precise pinching skills.

At 9 months, many children show significant improvement in their fine motor abilities, often refining the raking motion to a more deliberate and controlled grasp as they progress toward the ability to use a pincer grasp with their thumb and index finger. Thus, identifying 9 months as the age for this milestone reflects the development of these crucial fine motor skills, marking an important phase in a child's ability to interact with their environment through manipulating small objects.