Pointing with whole hand

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Has anyone had a baby pointing with their whole hand rather than the index finger?

DS is 13 months and I think this is what he's doing - I thought he was just reaching for things a month or so ago but I think he's actually "pointing", he does it to request something, and also every now and again at random things. When he's requesting for something especially, he points his hand towards it, looks to me then back at the item.

Older DC started pointing at 12-13 months but he used his index finger so it was much more obvious. I'm not worried about DS as such otherwise as I think he shows joint attention with eye contact etc, but I know pointing is such a big milestone and I don't want to "miss" it if he's actually already doing it, just not using his index finger. He tends to hold his hand straight rather than in a flat when he's gesturing currently.

Whole hand pointing is quite common and in most cases tends to come just before index finger pointing (as its easier to do), however, whole hand pointing does not replace index finger pointing and from a development point of view you still want to see index finger pointing by 18M of age.

Interesting, why is that then? As doesn't the gesture itself indicate the joint attention, "showing", whether it's with a whole hand, index finger, thumb etc?

Way before joint attention, pointing demonstrates "theory of mind", an intrinsic and unlearned skill. Whole hand pointing, thumb pointing, etc are all underdeveloped and unnatural forms of index finger pointing. What you are asking is basically why does a child need to walk when they can crawl if both achieve the same result of moving them from A to B.

Mine pointed whole hand from 9MO. She didn't point single finger for way longer. I think she was nearly 15MO. It will come. It's the actually doing it that has the positive social implications. I don't think whether they're using 1 finger really comes into it. That's usually more of a fine motor thing and a 'when they can be bothered' thing like lots of this stuff xx

Many children with underlining development disorders start whole hand pointing but never go on to index finger point and it's not because of fine motor skills or because they can't be bothered - isolating an index finger requires much underlying development and understanding before it can happen.

Thanks Jannt86 hopefully DS will start using his pointy finger soon.

Bumping this as DS is now 14.5 months and his gesture is definitely his version of pointing. He does it towards things he wants, also things he likes eg birds. Occasionally, he will curl his middle, ring and baby fingers over so it does look like a proper point (albeit an awkward one - not your traditional fist with index finger pointing out), but I would say at least 95% of the time he uses his hand with his other fingers also outstretched. He often "leads" a bit with his index finger, so that finger appears lower than the others (sorry it's hard to describe) but that's it.

He makes this gesture several times a day, as I said towards things he wants or likes. For both he will often look at me for a second then back at whatever he's gesturing at.

I don't really know what to think though! DH is adamant he's pointing, and I completely agree that he is "gesturing" to request and share interest. But he's not pointing in the traditional sense.

Anyone know?

Meant to say DS shows us a lot. And I mean a lot! Probably 50 times a day he holds up whatever he's got for us to see, whether it's a toy, food etc.

I dont really know but my daughter was I think between 14 and 15 MO when she just suddenly did it. From what I've read this is about the average time to do it anyway and pointing whole hand for a few months before one fingered is the norm?? She's 25MO now. Her speech still isn't brilliant but she talks none stop and in full sentences. Her understanding I would say is way above average and she's very smart. Wicked sense of humour. Plays really nice imaginative games with her dolls etc. She's perhaps a bit awkward with her eye contact but otherwise I have no reason to be concerned. Pointing is important but so is your gut instinct. If you put the pointing aside would you be worried? Developmental issues are rarely isolated to such a degree so if he's otherwise fine I really wouldn't stress. Any formal guidance about these things are only based on laws of averages and plenty of kids will break these rules. For example if you look at speech therapy information you'll read that children only string words together once they can say at least 50. Well my LG could say 20 at most when she started putting 2 together. And plenty of kids dont say a thing then bam full sentences. Kids aren't rule books. If he's otherwise fine he's probably fine x

Index finger pointing is not considered late until after 18M - he still has nearly 4 months till then which a very long time in development time, it sounds like he is nearly there, it will come :)

Thanks both.

To be honest I didn't think I would be worrying about this with DS2 as he smiled way before DS1 (before 3 weeks!) laughed early, has just always been so engaging, "showed" things way before 12 months, clapped etc early (DS1 wasn't doing any gestures at 11 months and I was started to get worried, then all of a sudden he clapped, waved and pointed all within about 5 weeks). He also copies a lot, makes what I think is meaningful eye contact a lot eg looks between us and books etc.

He does do some things that can be linked to autism or can be completely normal (aren't there just so many things like that!) eg he bangs his head on his mattress to soothe himself to sleep, and occasionally does it on a tantrum (will lie down on the floor with his hands under his head and bang his head on them, not hard though he clearly doesn't want to hurt himself) but other than that nothing he does or doesn't do worries me. He had much worse separation anxiety than DS1 but tbh he seems more in line with other babies I know eg my niece and nephew, and DS1 was almost the "different" one in that he wasn't as clingy, if that makes sense.