Points at things

What is this milestone?

Points to show interest or request

Using their index finger, your baby points at objects to draw your attention to them (declarative pointing) or to request something out of reach (imperative pointing).

Why it matters

Pointing is a huge communicative leap. It proves they understand 'joint attention'—the concept that two people can share focus on the same object. It drastically reduces frustration because they can clearly indicate their desires.

What to expect leading up to it

Before isolating the index finger, babies often 'point' with their whole hand or reach aggressively toward what they want. Once they master the finger point, they will point at everything—dogs, airplanes, and ceiling fans.

How to encourage and support it

When they point to something, name it and describe it ('Oh, you see the big green truck!'). Point to things yourself while reading or walking outside to demonstrate how useful the gesture is.

When to talk to your doctor

Pointing to show you something -- not just to request it -- is an important social step. Tell your pediatrician if your child is not pointing by 18 months, does not follow your point to look where you are looking, or rarely tries to share their interest in things with you. These are worth raising early even when everything else looks typical. And at any age, if your baby loses a skill they already had, tell your pediatrician that week.