Which developmental skill is typically developed first in infants?

The grasp reflex is typically one of the earliest developmental skills observed in infants. This reflex is present at birth and usually diminishes around 5 to 6 months of age as the infant gains more voluntary control over their movements. It demonstrates the infant's neurological development and their ability to respond to tactile stimuli. This reflex allows infants to grasp objects placed in their hands, which is an essential precursor to developing finer motor skills later on.

While other skills such as a social smile, language acquisition, and walking are also important milestones in an infant's development, they occur after the grasp reflex. A social smile typically emerges around 6 to 8 weeks of age, marking the beginning of social interaction, while language development begins with cooing and babbling that generally precedes actual words and communication, which occurs later. Walking typically develops much later, around 12 months of age on average, following several stages of motor development. Thus, the grasp reflex is foundational and develops earliest among these options.