22/09/2026
Those tiny little hands are doing so much more than just looking adorable.
From the moment your baby is born, their hands are already part of the way they communicate, self-soothe, and explore the world around them. Hands drifting towards the mouth can be an early hunger cue, but they can also be for comfort. Tiny, clenched fists are completely normal in newborns too, and as the weeks pass, you will start noticing their hands becoming softer, more open and more purposeful.
Watching your newborn’s hands alongside the rest of their little cues can tell you so much. The rooting, the mouth movements, the wriggling, the hands coming up towards the face. Once you start noticing the whole pattern, you begin to recognise what your own baby is trying to tell you before the crying even starts.
A few things worth knowing in those early weeks: newborn nails grow surprisingly fast and can scratch their delicate skin, so keep them gently filed or carefully trimmed when they are calm or sleeping.
Mittens can help in the very early days, but try not to keep those little hands covered all the time. Your baby needs to feel, touch, explore, and discover what those tiny fingers can do.
Those tiny fingers are learning everything. Give them the space to do it. 🌸
