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Original poster

Pointing - when did yours?

30 replies

puppie · 10/09/2008 13:11

DS is one and not pointing yet. I know he still has a while but was just curious as to when your DC's first pointed?

OP posts:
OLIVIASMAMA · 10/09/2008 16:45

oh only in the last few weeks and DD is one in a couple of weeks. It'll come, dont panic

McGill · 10/09/2008 17:14

I asked the same question on a different thread a month or so ago when my wee one was about 13 months and then he started pointing about a week later!

FlightofhteGiantHardon · 10/09/2008 17:22

Mine is 15mo and doesn't point at all.

Yes, I am vaguely concerned - but he is probaby fine.!

FattipuffsandThinnifers · 10/09/2008 17:38

15 months.

nappyaddict · 10/09/2008 17:39

about 18 months

BirthdayBabe · 10/09/2008 20:28

14 months here

ilovetochat · 10/09/2008 20:29

11 months

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 10/09/2008 20:30

dd2 pointed once when dd1 was ona ride and we said to her "where's baa baa gone?" she was 14 months is 15 months now but it hasnt been repeated.

umberella · 10/09/2008 20:34

our dd started pointing on Friday at just under 9 months and hasn't stopped since. it's v sweet as she's using it to tell us what she wants /where she wants to go etc!

uberalice · 10/09/2008 20:38

Just before 18 months, both DSs. I worried myself sick the first time. According to my GP it's not such a big deal.

noonki · 10/09/2008 20:40

14 months, think it also depends on whether you point a lot or not,

kt14 · 10/09/2008 20:57

I don't mean to scare anyone but it is a big deal. Honestly it is, and it scares me that GP's (including my own BIL) aren't always given the training to recognise this. dS1 has probable language disorder/ ASD and his late pointing was one of the only early indicators. DS2 pointed from 11 months and hasn't stopped since. He now at 12.5 months points to share interest, request, and when I ask him where an object is.

The usual timeframe for first pointing is 9-18 months. If a child isn't pointing by 18 months, you should ask your HV for advice as (along with late speech, lack of imitative gestures such as waving bye bye) it can indicate possible language or communication issues. The vast majority of children do point by then, so please don't worry unnecessarily, it is just worth keeping an eye on.

nappyaddict · 10/09/2008 21:35

i spoke to someone on here whose dd didn't point until 21 months but she was 7 weeks prem i think.

Original poster
puppie · 11/09/2008 12:31

Thanks ladies! it seems I have a bit of time left before panicking. The reason I ask is because there are other niggles but have such a crap GP that he would just laugh them off if I went to him.

DS does not make good eye contact (I thought it was a figment of my imagination because I had PND and thought he was just rejecting me). He will sometimes look me in the eye but rarely and fleetingly. He does not wave, clap etc....despite me teaching him how. He does however smile and laugh. He flaps his hand occasionally (about twice a week I see him do it). I have seen him cover his ears a few times. He responds to his name about half the time. He bangs his head with his fist sometimes when hes tired.

Do all babies do these things now and again?

OP posts:
BibiThree · 11/09/2008 12:32

DTs have only just started pointing and thye are almost 14 months.

CrushWithEyeliner · 11/09/2008 12:37

ooh this was v early for DD 9m

stealthsquiggle · 11/09/2008 12:38

At her 7-8mth development check with the HV - pure awkwardness because the HV was going through her list and said 'of course she won't be able to point yet' - so she did

but I would agree that 18mths is the earliest to start (officially) worrying about it

electra · 11/09/2008 12:38

Dd2 was about 10 months. I was watching her like a hawk for it because dd1 had just been diagnosed with ASD. It's one of those things that just suddenly happens. Dd1 did point at about the same age, but just to herself, never to show me iyswim. It also goes together with other stuff like gaze monitoring.

cyberseraphim · 11/09/2008 14:36

DS1 (ASD) about 10 months - proto declarative pointing but not following a point. Can follow a point now aged 4.6

DS2 (NT) about 8 months. Both of above

suwoo · 11/09/2008 14:43

15 months and 2 weeks (after I whipped him to the HV at 15 months and one day when he wasn't pointing )

kt14 · 11/09/2008 18:46

puppie, what you've written is sounding a little familiar, but your ds is so very young please don't panic too much at this stage. There is plenty of time for waving and clapping to come, while still being within the boundaries of typical development.

I really would advise noting down your concerns though, such as the limited eye contact, flapping etc. If you are still concerned in three months time, or things worsen then do go and see your gp again (or request a different one if yours isn't up to much) Go with your instincts and if you feel something isn't right then ask for your ds to be checked.

Babies develop so quickly at this time, and I went from being convinced DS2 would never point, wave, clap etc to being reassured when he started to do them all virtually overnight.

electra · 11/09/2008 18:53

I think tbh that 12 months is too early to tell. Personally I would wait until 18 months to get a referral for any child of mine if I was concerned about their development. Play is important too. My oldest dd didn't know how to use toys.

LaVieEnRose · 11/09/2008 19:04

10 months

nappyaddict · 11/09/2008 19:04

my ds is 2.2 and flaps his arms all the time. i thought this was normal?

nappyaddict · 11/09/2008 19:05

oh and he always covers his ears too.