A possibly silly concern about DD's pointing

[Redoxon]

My 15.5 month old DD started to point properly about 2 weeks ago. Until then she gestured a lot with her full hand and arm. She was always very clear, however, and she remains very clear in communicating her needs. However yesterday and today she has stopped using her index finger so much. Back to her hand most of the time.

Last week she mastered walking on her own properly (no more crawling), and has become actually more vocal (more words) and is just doing more...so maybe she's got a lot of new things going on?

But I do feel a bit worried about her not using her index finger again suddenly when gesturing. My DH thinks this is silly, that she points at everything in books and up close etc. he also thinks that she's mastered it and may not do it all the time.

I just wondered if I'm being a silly fusser.

Yes you are. She sounds fine

Tigress, sorry, not sure why you bothered to input with that sign?

because she is rude perhaps?

I certainly wouldn't worry, if she is continuing to communicate with you :)

Thanks Fanjo and Lisa.

I don't think you've got anything to worry about! She's using her finger to point to small objects, I don't point at big things with just one finger, I use my whole arm and hand, it takes less effort if you think about it, so she's being very sensible and saving her energy for all the exciting learning new words stuff that's going on in her head.

Yes maybe julilucket!

Your 15.5 month old is walking already, and very verbal - tbh, from what you have actually written, you sound determined to find something to worry about and I agree with your dh. If you think about it carefully, what worrying thing could it possibly mean? Or is there a reason for you to worry particularly about your dd's development that you haven't expressed online?

I am a worrier, this is true.

She isn't very verbal. She has a handful of words but she is a very good non-verbal communicator. No one seems to have problems understanding her.

There's no real reason other than I wondered why she suddenly stopped pointing with her index finger.

My 8yo never has used her index finger to point. She uses her second finger.
I don't think it matters how they point, more if they point. I know a lovely little girl with no arms at all and she points perfectly well enough with her shoulder.

The books say that they do appear to abandon new skills and move on to the next one. They also say that this causes parents to worry. There you have it - textbook crisis, textbook solution!

My dd is 17mo and what she does and doesn't do changes each week, one week she's 'obsessed' with one word or a particular 'action' the next something new and exciting comes along and it's as if she's forgotten all about the previous weeks activity!

Try not to worry and relax and enjoy yourself with your toddler rather than stress or compare what they can and can't do - goodness you'll be frazzled in another few months.

Yes, all true. Thanks ladies. It is very hard to stay in the moment with things