When did your baby first start waving, pointing, and showing you their toys? My son is almost nine months and has not started any of these skills. We met a baby who is 12 days older than him and was doing all three. Is that baby early or is my son just late? I know all babies develope different, but I am curious what the average is. Thanks :)
If a baby isn't doing those things by 12 months, it is THE HUGE red flag for autism. I wouldn't worry at 9 months, but if he isn't doing it by 12 I would get a formal evaluation from a developmental pediatrician.
Best wishes,
A.
You should be able to find milestone charts online if you don't have a medical baby book. Well baby office visits should clue you in as well. I would think that if there was something wrong you might see other issues as well. Did he babble? Did he sit up alone by 6.5 months, hold his own bottle? Does he have chronic ear infections? Did he crawl? These were all red flags with my daughter. I think pointing was also late for her as well.She didnt cruise furniture or use a walker toy, but went from standing to walking - eventually.
I think if your child isn't hitting the goals on the charts you should be concerned. If your child is behind on several things, you should have him evaluated. My last child was behind the milstone charts by a few weeks or a month, and as she grew, rather than getting better, that gap widened.
Anywhere beteen 9 and 18months. It all depends on the child as well. Girls tend to develop faster than boys and babies who are read to and have more face and tummy time with parents tend to develop motor skills faster than those who do not.
Dear S.,
One thing I learned with my first baby is that milestones and percentiles and all the other things they use to gauge development didn't apply to her in the least. She did some things really early and other things a little late. She walked at 7 months, but still couldn't balance on her bottom to sit up by herself. She ate like a little piglet but was tiny and not even on the percentile charts, so to speak. She was perfectly healthy. I did daycare for a little boy 30 days older than her and they couldn't have been more different. He walked late, talked late, fed himself late. Not by MY standards, but by "milestone" standards. He really just kind of layed back and took everything in and once he started walking and talking, etc, there was no stopping him. He was very intelligent and a bit of a science geek (those are his mom's words). He was fascinated by just studying things. He's 23 now and serving in the Navy.
I don't need to say it again, but don't fall into the trap of comparing your child to other kids. And don't worry too much if something you read says that by such and such month your child should be doing this or that. They may do it sooner they may do it later and really the law of averages doesn't always apply.
Do you point to things? Do you pick up one of his toys to show it to him? Does your son have people who wave to him often? My daughter picked that one up because everybody waved at her but she did it with her hand turned in such a way that it looked like she was waving at herself. It makes sense if you think about it. To her, waving meant seeing the palm of a hand and fingers waving at you. With babies, it's kind of "monkey see, monkey do" sometimes.
Read to your little guy with inflection in your voice, don't worry so much, and know that things can be sinking in way before he processes them and one day out of the blue begins to replicate things he's seen and watched and heard. Play with him. Tickle him. Give him tummy raspberries. As long as you know he can see you and he can hear you and interacts with you by smiling or giggling, you most likely don't need to worry about anything being wrong at this point.
Enjoy your baby!
I also tell you don't compare, but fight with that daily.
Now I have two kids and am being forced to learn this more so. My daughter walked at 7 months and was climbing proficiently by 10. My son is probablly going to walk early too, but only around 10 months. However, he is much more socially aware that she is even now at 3yrs.
Also, remember part of what your child will do is what you emphasize. My daughter is very imaginative and physical, but not very academic. When I look at the parental contribution, I see why. We have allways taken her out intot he world and done things with her. We also haven't tried sitting down and learning things like letters. We have friends who have children that at 18 months had been trained to spell their names (I still think they were jus tgiving hte answer the parent wanted in order ot continue plaing unitterupted). There again, it was what the parent had stressed for the child.
It's so hard to do, but relax and enjoy the ride.
S.
first off..DONT compare your babies...who knows yours may walk first. You just never know. As far as waving, pointing, showing toys....you are right each baby is different, but that means NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. I would take a deep breath and enjoy him for where he is at NOW. They grow up quicker than you think. and once that one year point hits...watch out, they take off like weeds!! Good Luck to you!
Comparing babies can make you worry....don't do that :o) Babies grow at their own pace and develope their skills when the're ready.
Example, my sister has twins boys :o) One of my nephews developed faster than the other (ate more, made noises first,crawled, walked, etc...)....now they are 16 months old and the "slower one" has surpassed the "faster" one in every aspect! They are so cute, and comparing them just isn't fair.
Your baby boy will reach his milestones when he is good and ready :O) Be patient. Just keep him interested in objects, etc.... PLUS... enjoy it while you can, the sooner he begins all that stuff, the sooner you get busier and busier as his mommy :O)
~N. :O)
I agree that its not healthy or helpful to compare your child with others too much, but I would also pay close attention to those milestones. Pointing and showing you things are baby's first attempts to engage you and communicate with you. He wants you to look at what he's looking at. He wants you to understand what he is thinking about. Pay attention to all of his attempts to communicate. Does he laugh when you do funny things, does he engage in peek-a-boo and other games. When children do have developmental and communication delays these are some of the first signs that can be detected. If you're worried, ask your pediatrician or get a referral to a developmental pediatrician.
