Yes, if he’s a young baby. “Starting around 2 months, babies enjoy looking at various objects — like the mobile over their crib, a fan, or a toy dangling in front of them,” says pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, editor of The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones. Naturally, he will also find his own hands, which are right in front of him, fascinating.
By 2 months, your baby’s vision has significantly improved. He can see objects that are farther away and with greater detail, thanks to his developing brain and stronger eye muscles.
At 2 to 3 months old, a baby might stare at his mother’s face and be unable to look away until she moves. The same kind of fixation can happen with his own hands, Altmann explains. “This is all part of their development,” she says. “And it’s a wonderful way for him to entertain himself.”
Soon, your baby will become so visually aware that he will enjoy seeing new and different things. For instance, if you hold up a new rattle, his eyes may widen, and he may gaze at it longer than at a familiar toy. When a baby stares at his hands, he is simply enhancing his visual ability and coordination, getting ready for more significant developmental milestones.
Around 3 months, babies start to intentionally bring their hands together and soon will try to bat at objects or grasp things. At this stage, your baby will likely become less interested in just looking at his hands and more focused on using them!
