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Behaviour/development

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No pointing- 16.5 months old

8 replies

takenbywine · 15/08/2020 22:19

Hello,

My DS is 16.5 months old and is still isn't pointing which is worrying me a lot lately. I will list down things he does and the things he doesn't do to meet his upcoming 18 month milestone:

Positives
-He imitates everything
-He shares interest by bringing toys and objects like my sunglasses where he tries it on me and himself
-He has good eye contact and is aware of his surroundings such as who walks in and even during times when before DH walks through the door, DS runs to the door when he hears the keys

  • He responds to his name let's say 50% of time and the other 50% is when he is busy or concentrating on something else
-Loves his food but has phases where he hates any bumpy things in it if he is teething
  • babbles a lot and has a few words such as 'boobie' when he sees me getting dressed, 'foo' when it's mealtime, meow, wack wack when he sees ducks, woooo when he is thirsty meaning water
-Follows my point and looks towards it -Will look at me if he hears his favourite nursery rhyme -Seeks praise a lot and loves it when we clap after he has done something that is new to him -He says "ello" when he hears someone's phone ringing or if he sees my phone lying around, he will pick it up and place it on to his ear and say "ello" and he holds it to my ear as well where I will continue with pretend play
  • Haven't witnessed any meltdowns but does have tantrums but he is very easily distracted and he gets on with life immediately after being distracted

Concerns

  • No pointing
  • Some of his playing is repetitive for example, we were at a friends house recently and he was obsessed with opening and closing the slide doors as it was new to him. He generally loves playing with doors and drawers and prefers it to his toys
  • I sometimes feel he doesn't understand but he is bilingual at the same time or on the course of being bilingual
  • He stopped waving recently and is very unresponsive to strangers. He turns his head around to avoid looking at strangers if they say hello and he keeps his head turned until he is sure that they are gone
  • Won't sit still for games or books and will briefly engage in pat a cake or peekaboo but loves being chased around

I feel he is nowhere near his peers socially and communication wise. His main interests are just being boisterous and destructive. He won't sit down still and is always on the go. The only time he will sit is meal times and that's when he will be whinge so he could free from his high chair.

I would appreciate it if you could let me know if you have any experience in late pointers and how your dc turned out or is this something I should speak to the hv immediately?

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
CP2701 · 15/08/2020 22:44

I was totally stressed just like yourself. My daughter was not pointing and wasn't showing any signs of even being close. She turned 18 months... Exactly that day, she started pointing! She has honestly not stopped since. She's now 19 months and points at absolutely everything! It is honestly not the be all and end all. Don't worry until 18 months, try and enjoy it while he's small instead of worrying. I know it isn't easy but it sounds like he is doing pretty well!

takenbywine · 15/08/2020 22:50

@CP2701 thank you so much for sharing your experience. My gut says the same that he will point dead on 18 months but it just stresses me seeing other young toddlers pointing away similar to DS age and younger. I'm sure you are enjoying your DD's pointing now as there is so much to talk about and share when they are connected in that way. I just sometimes feel like I'm talking to a blank wall when I try to encourage him trying to point at objects using his index finger where he runs off.

OP posts:
Jannt86 · 16/08/2020 08:23

Yiu can never be totally sure in paper but he sounds perfect to me Smile Pointing is a huge milestone ITO possible ASD but I think it still has to be taken in context with the rest of the child and everything else sounds well on target. He has 2 months anyway before lack of pointing becomes a concern anyway and chances are he'll just do it one day. Mine started being a lot more strange aware at a similar age so I wouldn't worry too much and would just gently encourage him to interact with people whilst in his safety bubble with you and he'll probably improve. I honestly wouldn't worry right now he seems fine. I'd just mention to health visitor if he doesnt start pointing by the end of his 18th month and if he's not saying several words and some joined up phrases of 2/3 words by age 2 and just keep encouraging speech and social play in the meantime x

Ellsbells12 · 16/08/2020 15:16

Don't worry I did with my first and he is 6 now and fine .. now worrying my 2 year old not talking Wink

takenbywine · 17/08/2020 23:08

@Ellsbells12 all these worries are never ending :( I never realised how stressful being a parent is

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Katewillows1 · 16/08/2021 10:18

@takenbywine Just seeing how you DS went with his pointing. Did he eventually start?

Vittoria123 · 24/06/2024 06:53

takenbywine · 17/08/2020 23:08

@Ellsbells12 all these worries are never ending :( I never realised how stressful being a parent is

Hi
any update on your little one ? ❤️ about the pointing

takenbywine · 25/06/2024 00:35

@Vittoria123 hi I hope you're well. Basically ds stated pointing bang on at 18 months but it was infrequent . I think by 20/22 months he started pointing with noise and words like plane and was more interested and keen on it. He met his milestones after that but his speech was slightly delayed. He is 5 now and I would say his speech is still a little behind. He has sensory issues and emotionally behind his peers. He sees a play therapist and has been to occupational therapy and nothing asd jumped out. I suspected for a few years now that he probably has adhd as it runs in my dh's side of family including Dh himself. The kinks in his development kind of explains the way he is really.

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