Pointing

As you know, all babies are different. My daughter pointed around 12 months old and her friend (a week younger) started pointing around 11 months. I remember thinking "why isn't my daughter pointing since her friend is?" In due time!

I have a little boy who is 10.5 months old and he just starting pointing a few weeks ago. I wouldn't worry, and enjoy the no pointing for awhile longer. Now that my son can point at what he wants, he gets upset when we don't give it to him.

My son turns one next week, and he's only been pointing for a couple weeks. I bet he'll start doing it any moment!

B.,

My twins didn't start pointing to anything until 16 months. The reason for this, is that we didn't encourage it. My twins need to gain weight, so they are never allowed to even get to the hungry stage to point to food, and for safety reasons, everything they could want is in reach. We started pointing and naming and that got them going. If he points to something in a book name it, and if possible, point to the same item in the room. Naming will also speed up the talking process. Pointing is not a significant milestone to be worried about, it is simply a communication tool that is great for kids to have, especially when they can't talk. If you are worried about communication, have you tried baby sign language? We found that our twins picked it up as we used it on a regular basis.

Best of luck,

F.

I was a bit concerned when my son was 11 months and NOT pointing, too! Sure enough, he started pointing just after he turned a year old. Not to worry, my dear...he'll be pointing before you know it.

My now 3 1/2 year old son never really "pointed" like I would
see other kids, but we kind of had our own language and
I was usually pointing things out to him so he almost didn't
really seem to need to point things out to me. He would
just go over to something he wanted me to see. Every child
has their own way of communicating. It kind of depends of
their personality or your own. Other kids point constantly
I have noticed. I will be interested to see how my second
son who just turned 8 months will be in that respect. He is
already trying to do the sign for more which my older one
didn't try until he was saying actual words. I think my
younger one wants to be able to interact with big brother
so that's his motivation. Anyway, long story short, I wouldn't worry too much unless your child wasn't trying to
communicate with you in some way. It sounds like through
books you do.

Children can be the same but different too! If he is crawling that would be the main one to concentrate on because if helps with learning, pointing isn't! Do you point and show him? He might be more intellectual and skip some things that other kids do. I had one of those in my 5 children, he was verbal
and not so communicating with his body, that was just him.
Keep calm so he can grow up in a peaceful worry free envirnment, that more important to me than pointing!
God bless you!

Hi B.,
I have 2 adult children, twin teens/young adults(18) and 6 wonderful grandkids age 6mo-12yrs. They are all different! They all developed at their own rate and pace and they all are not only fantastic by individually unique!

They all found their own unique way to comunicate too! Sign language comes before speaking, so help him to communicate with you by showing him the signs for things he wants. Some of the signs he will show you!! My 6mo grandson lets us know when he's hungry by opening his mouth REAL wide then shutting it, open shut, open shut means FEED ME! When he wants something he can't reach or get to he opens & closes his hands, gimme, gimme. When you are trying to figure out what he wants (even if you know already) start pointing at things "is this what you want?" when it's not shake your head no, when you hit on it correctly shake your head yes. Hope this helps you to feel better! Now, my advice to you is to stop worrying and comparing your brillant child to others! Relax and enjoy every moment, it goes by so quickly!
T. Faith

Hi B.!
I'm not a doctor or anything like that, but sometimes I think people put to much emphasis on the little things. As long as your little bit is developing in other ways, I wouldn't worry about, he may be saving his energy for something more important.

A funny little story (sort of). I'll say be careful what you wish for because my son (now 19) learned pointing when his uncle took him to the mall & pointed to all the girls with big boobs. So my son learned to point drool, smile and say "titties"

Good luck!

My little boy is 18 months old and he doesn't point. He just reaches for what he wants. If he can't reach it, he will come and get me and say, "ma mee" and bring me over to get him what he wants. As for pointing at things on the page of a book....he instead, leans over and kisses the characters in the book. Every kid is different. I wouldn't worry too much. It's funny because I remember, a few months back, thinking the same thing....wondering why my son wasn't pointing yet. I had forgotten that was somthing they were "suppose to do". Who knows...one reason my son may not point is "I" don't point. If I show him something or try teaching him something, I actually take him over to it and show it to him rather than point at it. My husband and I are taking him to Sea World in 3 weeks...who knows, I may end up having to point at alot of things because it's so far away, and I may come home and have little boy who now wants to point at everything. he he

I don't remember when my daughter started pointing she is 2.5 now & I can't get her to stop pointing at everyone. Don't worry kids develop differently,I won't worry about it until your doctor says something about it.

Hi B.! Isn't it wonderful when your children start interacting? My son who is now 16 months old started pointing at about a year. I think people thought I was crazy because I used to walk through the grocery store talking to my son, pointing out the different fruits & other groceries. Just enjoy your little one & he'll surprise you everyday with how much he learns. Also I have found it is very important to make sure you make eye contact with your child often. Have fun. Being a mom is the greatest!!

My son didn't start pointing until around 12 mos, I'm pretty sure. He's generally on the slow side of normal with most milestones, but seriously -- totally normal. No developemental problems or anything.

It's SO hard not to worry about these things, I know, but unless there is something that you think is really off, I probably wouldn't worry about it at all.

Hi B.. My daughter is now 18 months and she really didn't point much at all until after she was a year old. I wouldn't worry about it since your son seems to be reaching out for things. My guess is he doesn't feel the need to point to get what he needs (you probably intuit his needs well) and I think it's too soon to expect him to point to specific objects in a book or parts of the body. After my daughter turned a year I could tell she was becoming a lot more interactive so we started working on pointing - I started pointing to objects and saying what they were, then gradually she started pointing when I asked her to tell me where her nose was or her belly buttion, etc. I would also take her hand and put it on the fuzzy object in a book and I'd do the same with my hand separate from hers - repetition always works. Honestly, I wouldn't worry, you can't always go with what the "norm is" because children develop at such different rates.

R.

Its a developmental stage that is different for each kid. Just like getting teeth, walking and holding their own bottle. You said that he does point to pictures. I say that counts.

You have nothing to worry about. Some children point at people some point at animals some point to books. It all depends on what your child is interested in. If he points to things in books that means he can point and knows how. That's all that it's about.

I've read lots of different things too, but my son doesn't point and he's 13 months. He doesn't even point at things in books and he's fine. Everybody will say kids develop at different rates, but I really think it's true. Just like walking, talking and all that big stuff-he'll do it when it's his time.

This is just what I tell myself....I could be way off base. :)