At around five months of age, what can an infant usually do?

At around five months of age, infants typically begin to develop their motor skills and hand-eye coordination, allowing them to reach for and sometimes grasp objects. This milestone is significant in their physical development as it shows the beginning of purposeful movement and interaction with their environment. Infants at this stage are becoming more curious and are starting to explore their surroundings through touch and manipulation of objects.

Crawling typically develops later, around eight to ten months. While some infants may start to respond to their name around this age, it is more common for them to do so closer to seven or eight months. Likewise, standing without support usually occurs around nine to 12 months, as babies need to build strength in their legs and balance, which takes time to develop. Therefore, the ability to reach for and grasp objects is a hallmark of development at five months and reflects important changes in an infant’s skills and capabilities.