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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

Waving and pointing - how old?

21 replies

expatcat · 02/05/2006 14:37

Does anyone know what age most babies begin pointing at things and waving hello & goodbye? My DS is almost one and no matter how hard I try I can't encourage him to point or wave! Is this one of those things that vary enormously from baby to baby??

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99redballoons · 02/05/2006 15:24

I think it does vary. My ds(3) started around 10 months I think. That's when he did his first baby sign (bird). He didn't wave for a while though, just smiled :o They all do things so differently I really wouldn't worry. (eg. my ds sat up at 5 months but my 6 month old dd has no inclination of doing it at all at the mo)

Does your ds do any other things with his hands, ie. does he clap? how good is his dexterity, eg. picking things up between fingers? Also does he follow where you're pointing to?

2Happy · 02/05/2006 15:27

ds is 10.5 months. He's just learned to wave, but he doesn't point. He doesn't clap either. His cousin is 14 months and she can do all three, but I do think it's totally variable between babies. HTH.

Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 16:02

he does clap (whe he is of a mind to ) and is very good at picking things up with his fingers (from large to very tiny). He also follows where we point. Sometimes he kind of gestures to things (open-handed - we call it jesus pointing) but I don't know if this counts?

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staceym11 · 02/05/2006 16:02

my dd pointed at about 10 month but wouldnt wave until about 14 month, it just varies as with everything!

Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 16:16

this is putting my mind at rest somewhat. I read that not waving/pointing by 12 months can indicate autism so I am feeling a bit worried! however I've got three weeks to go so will try to encourage him (to set my own mind at rest - he doesn't care). He does wave both arms in excitement - don't know if this counts? (I know, I sound a bit paranoid don't I )

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mcmudda · 02/05/2006 16:19

Expatcat - I would count your ds'"Jesus pointing" () as pointing - he maybe just doesn't have the manual dexterity to single out one little finger yet. Ds used to point with his wrist bent and his hand pointing towards his body IYSWIM (looked v odd!) and that eventually turned into a pointing finger.

kayzed · 02/05/2006 16:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 16:23

i like the sound of your ds's pointing mcmudda! I will count the 'jesus pointing' then and stop worrying about it!

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kayzed · 02/05/2006 16:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 16:24

kayzed thanks for your post - glad I'm not the only one. Are you from Australia (I am - married to a brit) or were you living out there at the time?

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Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 16:25

he definitely claps enthusiastically, and he does draw our attention to things. If I am holding him he will go 'eh, eh' and try to launch his whole body towards what he wants (usually books, toys, tv etc.)

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kayzed · 02/05/2006 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 16:30

I'm from Melbourne! We had DS here on the NHS, I had a great experience (although not had a baby in Oz)even though I had heard horror stories in advance. Good luck for July - I'm sure the NHS will treat you right!

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madamechocolat · 02/05/2006 16:49

My ds is 13 months, doesn't wave or point, but slams doors very effectively....

Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 16:57

then we have something in common - my DS loves to slam doors!!

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BonyM · 02/05/2006 16:57

Dd2 is 13 months and has only just started pointing in the last couple of weeks - points at absolutely everything now! She has been waving for a couple of months, but still isn't clapping. I meet up with 5 other mums and their babies - there is two months between the oldest and youngest (my dd is the oldest). All the other babies have been clapping for ages!

DebsCee · 02/05/2006 19:01

Hi expatcat

Pointing with an index finger should be in place by 18 months, not 12, so you have plenty of time. Apparently it comes between 10 and 18 months.

My DS could wave and clap at 10 months, but didn't point until nearer 15 months, but did the whole hand pointing for ages before that - now he can point for England!

Hope that reassures you.

Original poster

expatcat · 02/05/2006 19:06

Thanks bonym & debscee - just when you get yourself in a panic people on mumsnet manage to convince you that everything is fine!

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homemama · 02/05/2006 19:21

Hi, my DS pointed at 10.5mths but I would say this was early for a boy. He didn't clap for a while after that though. Even though everyone says it, it really is true that they do things at their own pace. My DS crawled at 6mths yet couldn't sit unaided unti 10mths!

The autism thing is def. 18mths and not 12mths. I know because someone scared me once with such talk when DS was just 9mths. I did some research and people on here also reassured me. Also with autism I'm sure the reason that pointing is so important is because it's your child non-verbally communicating with you and bringing his world and the 'outside' world together. If he's clapping, showing you things and gesturing with his whole hand before he's one then that all sounds good.

dionnelorraine · 08/05/2006 09:26

My DD is now 15 months and has only just started waving and pointing about 2 wks ago, still doesnt do it properly yet. Im not worried though, All children develop in their own way. :)

schneebly · 08/05/2006 09:29

my ds2 didnt really do this until 13-14 months whereas ds1 was doing it at about 11 months. I think it just varies from child to child.

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