my baby girl is 11 months old and just clapping but she is not waving and pointing

Question

Accepted Answer

It's not uncommon for babies to reach milestones at different times, as each child develops at their own pace. At 11 months old, your baby clapping is a positive sign of development, indicating that she is starting to engage in social interactions and showing coordination.

However, regarding waving and pointing, these skills typically emerge around 12 to 18 months. Here's a general guideline:

1. Waving: Babies often begin to wave "bye-bye" or "hello" around 9-12 months. Some may take a bit longer to do this, especially if they are more focused on other skills like clapping.

2. Pointing: Pointing usually emerges between 10 and 12 months, but some babies may start later. It’s a sign of communication and a way for them to express curiosity or interest in something. It may also be a precursor to using words.

What you can do:

Encourage communication by talking to her about what she is looking at and naming objects or people.

Model the behavior: You can demonstrate waving and pointing to her and use the actions in context, like waving when someone leaves or pointing to objects around the room.

When to be concerned:

If your baby is not showing other social or developmental signs, such as making eye contact, smiling, or trying to interact, or if there are other delays in milestones like crawling, standing, or speaking, it may be worth discussing with your pediatrician. Generally, if a child is active in one area (like clapping), it’s a good sign that they are developing, but it’s always important to track overall progress.