16mo not pointing

[Kle209]

My DS is still not pointing at 16mo. He waves, claps and is starting to do a bit of signing (more and water but not sure he really understands and isn’t just copying me 🤣). He has pretty good understanding and will get my attention with random noises and eye gaze or he’ll hold up/give me things he’s interested in.

I can’t quite decide if I’m worried or not! I feel like signing means I don’t need to worry so much but I’ve read that pointing is a very important milestone. He’s not got words as such though they seem to be coming (with pretty bad pronunciation!) but he def understands and tries to communicate.

Anyone else had a child point late?

Pointing is not considered late until 18M, he seems to have a range of other gestures so I would not worry too much at the moment. By 18M you really (need) to see pointing both to request and share.

Do you point? My first didn't point until 16 months. Tbh I had no idea they were supposed to but once I realised and started doing it he was fine.

He was a bit speech delayed (bottomed of normal) but at 7 has amazing language, reading and writing skills and is one of the best in his class.

@jollyohh yes I point (though probably only started to point often after he was 12mo) and I try to give him choices etc to encourage pointing but he’ll just look at stuff until it’s within reach and will then grab it!

I mostly would like him to point coz I think it will help our communication if he can better show me want he wants. Anything to try to avoid the tantrums!!

He currently has glue ear with some minor hearing loss so I’m expecting that his being slow to speak may well turn into a proper speech delay, so it’s really great to hear your son’s experience. But it’s the other reason why pointing would be great! Thankfully signing is starting to come so hopefully that will stop some of the upset...

Pointing is not considered late until 18M

wrong! by 18 months a child should point at the latest but most children do so far early. 16 months is already late-ish for not pointing.

hearing loss and lack of pointing aren't really related.

OP, I have a child who was late to point and to speak. Lack of speech was blamed on glue ear. Once we had grommets, things didn't resolve. later on got a dx of autism and learning diffs.

just keep an eye on the glue ear. I know a few cases like DD where it was a red herring. everything got blamed on her glue ear when it actually was her ASD.

@milkshak3 I think you misread my post, thats what I said, that by 18M he needs to be pointing. Yes, babies can point as early as 9 months, it would be rare but I have seen it. I agree, 16M is beginning to get late, but you said late-ish, but late-ish is not late, late-ish means that it is approaching being late. Many screening tools (including the MCHAT) require pointing both to request and share by 18M+30 days to pass the pointing questions. I have seen many toddlers point after 16M (including my DS who pointed at 17M) and are totally neurotypical.

However, it is something to keep an eye out and certainly act upon by 18M. But I agree, lack of pointing is not linked to hearing issues or lack of modeling. Pointing is an emergent skill (like walking), you can keep a neurotypical baby in a isolated room for 18 months, never seeing anyone point, and never showing them how to point and they will still point both to request and share by 18M.

My son would gesture with his whole hand initially - like reaching. He also didn’t have many words around 16 months. He’s now just over two, points normally and have more words than I can count. The ‘timeframes’ are just averaged for when most children do things- but each child develops at their own rate. If you’re worried, maybe speak to your HV?

@mummybear thanks - have spoken to HV but she focused more on the lack of words. For everything though she said to contact them again at 18m.

If he isn’t pointing at 18m, is autism the only explanation? My gut currently says I don’t think that’s it, and I’m expecting that he will suddenly ‘get it’ but I’m just wondering...

If he isn’t pointing at 18m, is autism the only explanation?

Not necessarily, but it will be in most cases (specially if it coincides with deficits in joint attention, imaginative play, and social referencing). However from your description I too don't see autism here. Pointing can come very suddenly, one day they do not point and the next they do, or sometimes they start whole hand pointing before isolating the index finger.

@mummybear thanks - have spoken to HV but she focused more on the lack of words. For everything though she said to contact them again at 18m.

Having a child with ASD/LDs, I think it's better to raise issues with the GP in any case. very few HVs have an understanding of atypical development. most are qualified to give weanning advice but not more

Hello @Kle209 how did your ds get on with pointing, when did he get the concept of pointing? I would love to hear his progress ...

@Sabu1234 He pointed something like 3 days after he turned 18months. He certainly kept me waiting and eventually pointed at the last possible moment to be considered in the normal range, but he is now looking like he's probably NT (he turns 3 this month). He was also slow to talk (I've read that there is often a link), but is now impossible to shut up although his pronunciation is still a bit dodgy. Turns out I didn't need to worry at all!

I assume you're worried about your own LO, and whilst I hope that my story gives you some reassurance I would def make sure you raise any concerns to your HV etc though I was told to wait until 18months.

@Kle209 yeah I’m very worried about my 16m dd. But she seems more delayed then what your ds was at 16m. I’m worried to the point it could be autism now. Everything is very delayed with her. She rolled over at 10m, sat at 12m with cushions supporting incase she falls, sat unaided 14m, and now at 16m she isn’t crawling or walking. She’s able to do a full 360 turn slowly whilst reaching out for her toys around her. She has good eye contact and loves attention, smiles back when I smile at her. No pointing no clapping yet. And I don’t thing there is any understanding .... I’ve spoke to the hv and I’ve asked for a referral.

@Kle209 pleased your dd had progressed, it’s so stressing when you know something isn’t right. I keep getting told she’s too young and wait atleast 18m.

In a similar situation with my just turned 15mo. He's been waving and clapping for a few months now, will stick his tongue out if somebody does it to him. However he doesn't seem to be pointing in the traditional sense. He tends to reach for objects with his whole hand and if he can't reach them soon gives up rather than trying to get my attention for help. Just today I saw him reaching for books so pointed at his books to ask if he wants them and he squealed as if to signal yes. If I ask him where a cloud on his wall is he slaps it with his whole hand. I also spoke to the HV who said contact again at 18m. Really hope I'm worried over nothing

My DS didn’t point until he was 16 months. I remember being really worried about it at the time. He’s 2.5 now and absolutely fine.