My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

14 month old doesn't clap point or wave

16 replies

megan96 · 29/11/2018 16:44

Hi I'm new to this bit I need some advice, my little one is 14 months old (almost 15m) and he doesn't clap wave or point. He doesn't point to anything to get someone's attention or bring a toy over to show interest. He can climb walk and pick things up and can babble mama or dada but that's about it, should I be concerned?

OP posts:
Report
ElyElyOy · 29/11/2018 22:16

My son is 18 (nearly 19 months and not pointing) so we have been referred for assessment, but I’m not sure at 14/15 months if this would be classed as a concern.

The best thing to do is speak to your HV in the first instance. They can asses the whole picture and give you a bit of direction :)

Report
lovely36 · 29/11/2018 22:37

Does he make eye contact with you? This is a bit concerning to be honest. Have you spoken with your gp or health visitor about this? My son is 15 months and knows his farm animals, shapes, etc if I ask he will point to what I'm asking for. WhT other things does he do? And also does he watch a lot of tv?

Report
megan96 · 01/12/2018 17:12

Yes he watches tv and he makes eye contact with me when we went for his one year review there was no concerns from the health visitor, he knows which things are his like if he sees his cups he starts saying mum or makes noises

OP posts:
Report
HeyJupiter · 03/12/2018 11:25

Hi, my understanding is that pointing is a 12-18month milestone so definitely still time for that to emerge. Clapping isn't that important but waving by 15 months is expected. I know this because I've had concerns about my own son. How is his receptive language? If you ask things like 'Where is mummy?' does he look in the right direction? Does he follow a pointed finger? That's often a pre-curser to learning to point. Might be a bit soon to worry too much but definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Report
megan96 · 03/12/2018 11:44

Hi
If he hears my voice he will look around for me or if I shout his name he will come towards me, he makes eye contact and babbles a lot. If I was to point he will look at my finger but not look at what I'm pointing at. He doesn't point if he wants something but will make noises to let me know if he wants it.

OP posts:
Report
HeyJupiter · 03/12/2018 12:00

It's really good that he's responding to his name! If you point to something really close by (like nearly touching it with your hand) it will hopefully encourage him to start following a point. Pointing should come from there. I think all these things are worth monitoring but maybe give him a couple more months before worrying too much. I'm no expert though, just an anxious mum who has done too much research herself.

Report
megan96 · 03/12/2018 12:14

Hi
thank you for that that's put my mind at ease a little I'm such an anxious mum and especially because I work with children myself so is really hard not to compare

OP posts:
Report
HeyJupiter · 03/12/2018 12:16

I can only imagine! My son is 12 months and I have had concerns from early on. I do suffer from anxiety problems though which is a big part of it I'm sure.

It might be worth having a chat to your Health Visitor as they might be able to offer you some real reassurance.

Report
ElyElyOy · 03/12/2018 12:29

As I said earlier my son is being referred but only from when he was 18 months old: so much happens in a few months. Just think about how much your baby has come on since they were 10 months old? Plus they have bursts of development.

Your HV should reassure you (and can do anothet ages and stages assessment) but I wouldn’t have thought they would be too concerned at this stage :)

Report
Lscuz · 15/11/2019 09:20

Hi megan96 did your wee one eventually start clapping pointing and waving?

Report
Lion23 · 24/09/2021 01:49

@megan96 do you mind providing an update for those in similar situations?

Report
Lion23 · 24/09/2021 01:49

@Lscuz did you have a similar situation? If so would you mind providing an update?

Report
Ah5337 · 01/05/2022 13:35

Hello, can we have an update please

Report
Lscuz · 01/05/2022 16:23

Hey mums, so my wee one when he was 14 months old didn’t clap, point or wave. He eventually did all of these things by 19 months old and I can’t tell you the relief I eventually had. He didn’t speak until he was nearly 3 and words just flourished. My son hand flapped until he was about 3 and a bit with excitement when watching tv, or watching bubbles etc. i had him assessed when he was 22 months old for autism and they said at that time he was absolutely fine but I still wasn’t convinced and I searched the internet for videos of autistic kids, read articles, watched tons of YouTube videos. And low and behold, he’ll be 4 in September and he’s talking in complete sentences, stopped flapping, and he’s a completely ‘normal’ child. He’s thriving at nursery, has friends, loves a tantrum. My advice is to stop searching the internet for videos and speaking to other mums because it didn’t help me, it only made me sick with worry. All kids really are different and they thrive at different times. However if you are at all worried, speak to your health visitor and they will get in contact with the right people to have your child assessed. Don’t focus on your child reaching milestones by a certain month. Good luck xxxx

Report
Bebe02 · 18/05/2022 21:50

Thank you for this. I was getting so paranoid and seeing in every movement autism. Watched loads of TIKTOK and YOUTUBE videos about it. I think i just have to let it go and he will develop in his own time

Report
Tanu92 · 04/01/2023 13:24

15 month old clapping, babbling mama and papa, points sometimes but not waving. Should I be concerned.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.