What motor skill is typical for 9-month-old infants as an important developmental milestone?

The fine pincer grasp is a significant motor skill that typically develops around 9 months of age in infants. This skill involves using the thumb and index finger to grasp small objects, demonstrating increased dexterity and coordination. Mastery of this skill is a crucial developmental milestone as it reflects the infant's ability to manipulate objects with precision, which forms the foundation for later skills such as writing and self-feeding.

While the ability to sit unsupported and roll from back to side are important milestones, these usually occur slightly earlier in development compared to the emergence of the fine pincer grasp. Holding a bottle is also a skill that a child may possess around this age, but it does not showcase the refined skill and coordination represented by the fine pincer grasp. Thus, the development of the fine pincer grasp at 9 months indicates not only motor development but also cognitive and sensory integration as infants explore and interact with their environment.