Does pointing with the whole hand precede index finger pointing?

[homemama]

Some of you may remember that I posted in quite an anxious state last month when a woman I was having lunch with suggested that DS showed early signs of autism.
After much reassurance from posters on here and from DH I tried to ignore it and put her comments behind me. Easier said than done!
Anyway, many of you on here confirmed that she was right about pointing being a sign but that at 9mths it was still early. I've now read in the archives various things about pointing with the whole hand and what I'd like to ask is if this often precedes standard pointing or if this means he has started pointing but not in the appropriate way.
He constantly 'points' using his whole hand and sometimes two fingers like a victory sign. He has index finger pointed once, last tue, when his Daddy came in with a nappy sack on his head, but has reverted to whole hand since then.
He gestures this way for both things he sees (dogs etc) and things he wants (juice).
I guess I'm just trying to find out if this is the usual 'pathway' or whatever.
I'd be grateful for any replies. I'm actually quite upset by this new found neurosis and more angry at her now than I was at the time.
BTW, he's clapping constantly now (another missing thing she said was a sign)

[Socci]

Message withdrawn

[dinosaur]

I've been watching my DS3 like a hawk (DS1 is on the autistic spectrum) and in his case, whole hand "pointing" and gesturing definitely preceded proper index finger pointing.

DS3 is just coming up to 14 months and it's only been in the last month that he's started consistently to use his index finger to point.

I agree that clapping is a good sign. My DS1 didn't, my DS3 does .

[homemama]

Thanks guys. If I'm honest, I've gone from not even considering it to 'seeing' all sorts of 'signs'. I just wish she had kept her comments to herself and I could have carried on blissfully enjoying his babyhood.

[dinosaur]

I'm very annoyed on your behalf, homemama.

I think that Jimjams said somewhere that the best way to encourage your child to point is to talk with him about what you are both looking at, whatever it is - trees, buses, people, the sky, whatever. I've been doing this with DS3. It's a good thing to do because it's fun and it makes me feel as if I'm being proactive.

[homemama]

Thank you Dinosaur. I will keep trying to encourage the pointing.

[DebsCee]

I was going to ask a similar question today as my son began whole hand pointing and gesturing about 6 weeks ago, and very infrequently uses his index finger only. He is constantly saying look, what's' that etc when he does, so I'm not unduly worried but like you was curious to know if it was a preceder. My sister reassures me that one of my nephews did the same before finally getting finger pointing. My DS is 13 months.

I'm sorry that your 'friend' has got you so worried - you can find the 'signs' for all sorts of problems if you look hard enough. Just wanted to reassure you that your son is doing similar to mine and he's pretty 'normal' as far as me and his paediatrician are concerned!

[mummytosteven]

so is this friend a paediatrician then? i really think that she should think before she attempts to diagnose. 9 months is far far too early to worry about pointing. You wouldn't expect pointing till 12 months anyway.

[SoupDragon]

Do they have the dexterity/control to point with just an index finger at that age??

[hunkermunker]

DS is 17mo and has been whole-hand pointing since he was about a year old. However, only in the last month or so has he been firmly index finger pointing.

I would say it definitely can precede index finger pointing - I've seen lots of DS's friends do just the same thing over a varying number of months.

Please don't worry - he is still very young (and is whole-hand pointing considerably earlier than my DS was, which might be a small comfort?).

As for clapping, I know one little boy who has never clapped, but has just started index finger pointing at 16mo.

[DebsCee]

SD - some babies do. According to the Griffiths Assessment Scale used by paeds 50% of LO's can index finger point at 10 months.

But of course that also means that 50% can't and my dev. paed. told me they don't worry about lack of index finger pointing until 18 months. She said that gesturing is also the beginning of shared communication, particularly if accompanied by plenty of "look", "what's that", and naming etc.

HTH

[homemama]

Thanks again everyone. I'm trying not to worry as I know that 10mths (as he is now) is still early. I just wanted to get some clarification on the whole hand pointing thing.
I wish I could just have ignored her stupid, unqualified comments but I can't. But you've all helped.

[nell12]

Did you see that prog on Living TV: The Human Baby?? It explained pointing as a very complex achievement... when a baby first sees you point he/she just looks at your finger, he/she has no concept that you are expecting him/her to look in the direction that you are pointing. Once the baby has worked out what you are doing, he/she will then look in the direction of the point. Only then will the baby begin to understand that pointing is a form of communication and start to make pointing gestures.
When you look at it like that, you can understand why it takes our darlings a while to suss out the pointing thing!
Try not to worry, it can be anytime between 9 and 18m until they point

[Saker]

I would be pretty sure that it is lack of fine finger control that would mean a baby wouldn't point with an index finger straightaway. If he is pointing to things he sees and wants already and enjoying sharing something like his father acting daft, then that all sounds very good to me.

[Jenny1973]

I have no knowledge on the subject. Sorry,but just had to post, because I think some people are so tactless with their opinions. I would be devastated if some-one said that about any of my children. The trouble with alot of people is they try & rush babies behaviour & development & worry you needlessly with their comments.
I hope you really do enjoy the rest of his babyhood, its so important isn't it?

[haxhiu79]

hi I have 20 months boy and I'm really worried
hi doesn't express interest playing with toys
don't point any think
50 % don't answers to me and don't take any instructions. I been to doctor and I'm in wating list .
any advice please...