Should I be worried?

[Bubblyface]

My little girl turned 1 last week but was 4 weeks early so about 11.5 months adjusted. I'm getting concerned as she's not showing any sign of pointing. She waves and claps occasionally but just doesn't point. She also doesn't bring me things to show me.

Should i see a doctor or is it too early to worry?

[Ferguson]

Don't mean to be rude, but if anything it's probably YOU should see a doctor if you are worrying about details like that!

Surely, you must know ALL children do things at different times, and probably no child conforms exactly to the 'official' timetable of progress.

How much TV does she see, and do you have a radio on all day? Does she play with toys, dolls; do you play with her in the garden, or take her to the park.

Do you talk to her and read her stories, and show her picture-books?

[coffeemachine]

I think it is 'expected' by 18 months though most do it earlier. She just turned 1 so I would not worry about it yet and give it s couple of months more.

[Bubblyface]

I wasn't worried until someone pointed it out and I googled it and there's loads of sites stipulating that if they're not pointing by 1 then it's a red flag for autism.

Of course I play with her, take her to the park and read books with her. She's not not pointing because I'm a bad mother!

Coffee machine - thank you

[coco1983]

Are you worried about anything else in her development? If it's just pointing then I'd wait until 18 months before worrying.

If she has been delayed doing lots of things like sitting up, walking etc then I'd have a chat with her doctor or health visitor. Also if she shows any unusual behaviours like not making eye contact or doing the same thing over and over again, I'd have a chat with a professional just to make sure she doesn't need any extra help with anything.

[monkeydoesmonkeydo]

Does she have her 1 year review coming up? Normally you have an appt sent to you from your local health visitor and they will go through a lot of questions to see where you LO is at. You could bring it up there?

[Bubblyface]

No she had one at 9 months which she passed fine....

[Bubblyface]

Coco she's met all her milestones in time considering she was 4 weeks early. She does eye contact and she doesn't repeat things particularly. She waves and high fives and laughs with me and stuff but she is quite contained and likes to play on her own too. I don't know maybe I'm reading too much into it, she did bring me a little book today to look at and then wanted me speak into a phone!

[GloriousSlug]

I work with babies and young children and this would not be a cause for concern for me at all. If she wasn't pointing by 18 months then maybe but not at 12 months.

From what you've said her social skills are within the range of what I'd expect for a one year old.

[AliceInHinterland]

Ferguson I would hate to see how rude you are when you were trying! Seriously it's perfectly normal to worry about stuff like this.
My son wasn't pointing at his year check, perhaps a month later. I was worried, and now he's two I'm worrying about whether he's spoilt... Something new at every stage.
It sounds like she's really socially engaged with you, and I think the key is that in general they are moving forward with their development, not staying the same for long (or going significantly backwards).
I think if you go to your HV drop in clinic where you get them weighed you can ask them questions like that and I'm sure they will reassure you.

[Bubblyface]

Thanks GloriousSlug and Alice that's reassuring!