Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

No waving at 12 months?

9 replies

Carrotstick878 · 13/05/2022 09:47

Hi everyone! This is my first ever mums met post. I’ve lurked and found everything so helpful over the last year, but was hoping others may have a similar experience?

My little man is almost 12 months. He: claps, high-five’s, cheers with a cup, gives cuddles and kisses when asked, gives when you put your hand out, and reaches when he wants something. He babbles up a storm, lots of almost defined ‘mama’ and ‘dada’s, no defined pointing yet but he will use his index finger to explore pictures in books and and follows my point, watches for your reaction when he’s playing and he makes a noise etc, grunts loudly to get your attention (or slaps you if he’s close enough 😂). He walked at 10.5 months and spends most of his time wanting to be mobile/climbing etc. He LOVES the attention he gets when toddling about outside. He still looks quite small so attracts many older people with compliments which he loves.

The only thing I’m getting concerned about is that no matter how hard we try, he will not wave bye bye or hello. I can literally sit beside him and say high five, kisses, clap hands, give and he does everything, and then I’ll say ‘wave hello’ and he just drops his hand and refuses to try!

I’m an Early Years teacher and have worked with many infants and toddlers, and know in isolation this doesn’t mean much and the fact he’s using other gestures is positive, but I’m starting to focus on the waving! And probably finding it hard to be objective with my own too.

Has anyone’s baby started waving after 12 months and they’ve continued to develop in a standard way?

thanks so much in advance!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BertieBotts · 13/05/2022 09:50

He's probably doing it on purpose because you're focusing on it Grin

Don't worry. He's making gestures. It doesn't matter what exact gestures they are.

Carrotstick878 · 13/05/2022 10:06

thank you! I think you’re right 😂

He’s my first child, the first grandchild etc, and my friends kids are a bit older! We do go to classes etc and literally every other baby there seems to be waving! I’m becoming obsessed haha!

OP posts:
HalloHello · 13/05/2022 10:07

My daughter was so early doing everything, sat up at 5 months, pulled herself to standing at 8 months, walked at 9 months, waved, pointed, kisses etc, did it all! Talked so early and was just so clever! It was amazing. Except she didn't clap until she was 13 months!!!! She could bang toys together but just would not clap 🤣 she's fine now and her baby brother has been clapping since 7 months! They're all fine and sounds like your boy is totally normal ❤️

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Feckingfeck · 13/05/2022 10:10

DS was the same. DD is 10 months and an avid pointer and waver but DS just didn't really seem to bother.

He was mobile early like your DS so there really wasn't anything in pointing for him because he could get to where he wanted. Guess he wasn't too bothered about being waved at and as my first we didn't really wave at each other for him to copy 😂

DS is 10 now and can wave and point 😉

Sometimes milestones creat more worry than they are worth. Sounds like he is trying to communicate in his own way, so he is fine. He sounds like a bright little spark 😊

Lasana · 13/05/2022 10:15

He sounds like a genius, I wouldn't worry!

Carrotstick878 · 13/05/2022 11:41

Thank you so much everyone! You’ve really put my mind at rest! So glad to read this isn’t unusual!

@HalloHello - So glad it’s not unusual for them to just take a dislike to certain gestures and leave them til last 😂

@Feckingfeck I’m glad to hear your DS got there in the end 😂

OP posts:
JemimaTiggywinkle · 13/05/2022 11:45

My DS is 13 months and he doesn’t wave hello or goodbye.

If we wave to him he finds it funny and will sometimes flap his hand around, but it’s usually when he’s pottering around, rather than at the appropriate moments.

I don’t know why my DS won’t pick up waving, he copies other things we do quite well and is very excellent at pointing for us so do his bidding.

If there’s no other cause for concern then I don’t think you should worry.

AfterGlow87 · 13/05/2022 20:36

I would honestly try to stop comparing your baby and stop focusing on individual things - re read your original post and you’ll see the list of things he does. My baby doesn’t do everything you’ve mentioned and I’m not worried. He waves but doesn’t point with finger yet, just whole hand etc. It’s obvious to me even that your baby is coming on fine. Babies get there in their own time and haven’t read the rule book

Carrotstick878 · 18/05/2022 10:46

Just wanted to hop back on and say thanks for all the replies everyone!

@JemimaTiggywinkle Glad to hear your boy isn’t waving either and there’s nothing else concerning you! Suspect it’ll come one day when we’re least expecting it!

@AfterGlow87 you’re completely right. It’s so easy to waste appreciating the amazing things they can do when worrying about what they can’t.

He actually started whole hand pointing yesterday, and is obsessed with pointing at cars and dogs right now haha! I’m trying to just relax and enjoy it all :)

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page