At 8 months, most babies have not acquired the hand and finger skills to use the pincer grasp, instead clumsily "raking" desirable objects toward themselves. As they approach 12 months, they gain the skills to grasp objects of different sizes with the thumb and first or second finger. They practice this pincer movement on any and all small objects, from toys to pieces of fruit.
References
- Shelov, S. P. (Editor-in-Chief). (2004.) Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. The American Association of Pediatrics. Revised edition. New York: Bantam Books.