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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

When do babies start to point? And do they use fingers or hands?

14 replies

gobblygook · 14/09/2011 08:49

As the subject heading says! My son has small hands, little fingers LOL! Is he really going to be clear pointing with a finger? I can't imagine it...he's nearly 10 months. Claps, waves, reaches but no pointing

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AnyFuleKno · 14/09/2011 08:54

They point with the finger normally as I recall. It's been a while for me but I remember dd pointing loads when she was just starting to form words like dog, cat, that. We used to look at pictures and I'd say " where's the lion?" so she could Point it out

LifeOfKate · 14/09/2011 11:42

DS started at around a year, but used his whole hand to point for ages, maybe 2-3 months...

hophophippidtyhop · 14/09/2011 22:05

dd2 is 13 months and started pointing about a month ago, using 1 finger.

jazzandh · 15/09/2011 20:18

DS2 has just started pointing with one finger at 10.5 months.

Last week, he was gesturing with his whole hand sort of outstretched.

InvaderZim · 15/09/2011 20:23

We've had proper pointing for about a week, at 10.5 months.

Jergens · 15/09/2011 20:33

DD started pointing with index finger a couple of weeks ago, just under 10 months.

Original poster

gobblygook · 15/09/2011 21:02

10 months is young Jergens! Wow. Do I need to do anything to encourage him or will it just happen.

OP posts:

Pfriend · 15/09/2011 21:09

My DS is ponting with his whole hand at 12 1/2 mo.

Lena83 · 17/09/2011 01:19

it almost happens overnight, one day he doesn't, next day he does. majority of babies point by 12 months, but some later and that's fine. so 10 months is early- he will probably just surprise you one day. I guess that if you point yourself, that should be enough.

uppityduppity · 17/09/2011 01:32

My son started with his hand (vaguely gesticulating) and then moved on to one finger pointing. It was a bit later than the others have mentioned, perhaps more like 16 months?
We encouraged him by pointing at things he was interested in and also holding his arm and helping him point. Later when he wasn't finger pointing we showed him that too.
He is most likely slightly delayed, due to an underlying condition.

snitchrose168 · 17/09/2011 01:50

DS is 14 months and doesn't point. If he sees something he wants he uses his whole hand and open and closes his fingers. Very cute!

Graciescotland · 17/09/2011 01:53

DS was about nine months but we used to play a game that if DS put out a index finger I'd put out mines and then touch them together with a funny noise. So he pointed at everything and everyone. Get very grumpy if they don't do it back though so we're trying to get him to wave instead.

Jergens · 17/09/2011 07:35

Gobbly, we didn't actually do anything to encourage it. My DD doesn't crawl/stand/show any inclination to move...she has chosen to point instead. At everything. And everyone.

pleasethanks · 17/09/2011 12:21

Mine started out of nowhere at about 9 months and has barely stopped since. She is like something out of Saturday Night Fever.

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