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What to do if your child doesn't point at things
If your child isn't pointing, observe their wider communication — joint attention, gestures, babble — and encourage pointing at home, while booking a simple developmental check. Pointing usually emerges between 9 and 14 months; a child not pointing by around 15–18 months, or who has lost the skill, is worth a friendly clinician check. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
In this answer 5 sections
Pointing is one of the earliest ways a child says "look at this with me" — and noticing it matters, gently and without panic.
In short
If your child isn't pointing yet, the most helpful thing is to observe their full communication picture and book a simple developmental check — not to worry alone. Pointing usually emerges between 9 and 14 months: first reaching or pointing to ask for things, then the lovely "look at this!" point to share attention. A child who isn't pointing by around 15–18 months, or who has stopped, is worth a friendly look from a clinician — often everything is fine, and where it isn't, early support works beautifully.
What to watch and gently encourage
Pointing rarely stands alone — it's part of a bundle of early communication. Look at the whole picture:
- Joint attention — does your child follow your gaze or your point, and look back at you to share a moment?
- Other gestures — waving, reaching up to be lifted, showing or giving you objects, clapping, shaking head for "no".
- Eye contact and shared smiles during play and naming.
- Sounds and babble — back-and-forth "conversations", responding to their name.
Things you can do at home today:
- Point a lot yourself — to birds, lights, pictures in books — and name what you see warmly.
- Place a favourite toy just out of reach so reaching and pointing become useful.
- Pause and wait after asking "Where's the doggy?" — give your child time to gesture.
- Celebrate every attempt — a reach, a look, a sound — these are pointing's building blocks.
When to seek a check
Consider a developmental check if your child is around 15–18 months and not pointing, isn't following your point, makes few gestures overall, isn't sharing attention with you, or has lost skills they once had. Pointing is one item on routine 18-month screening — it's a normal, sensible thing to look at, not a verdict.
The Pinnacle way
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care. Our structured clinician assessment builds a precise picture of your child's communication strengths, and where helpful a tailored plan is delivered through speech therapy. You're warmly welcome to reach out and learn more.
Trusted sources
CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestone guidance on gestures and pointing; American Academy of Pediatrics family guidance (HealthyChildren.org) on early communication; ASHA resources on early gestures and joint attention.
Next step — Not seeing pointing yet? Book a gentle developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician.
CONNECT THE ANSWER TO YOUR CHILD’S DAY
Something to notice. Something to discuss.
What to notice
Watch the whole communication picture: whether your child follows your point and gaze, shares moments by looking back at you, uses other gestures (waving, reaching, showing, giving), makes eye contact and babbles back and forth. Seek a check if there's no pointing by around 15–18 months, few gestures overall, little shared attention, or loss of a skill once present.
In everyday life
Point and name things together all day — birds, lights, pictures in books — and place a favourite toy just out of reach so pointing becomes useful. Then pause, wait, and celebrate every reach, look or sound.
Bring your observations and questions to your child’s professional. Choose activities that suit your child’s comfort, abilities and agreed plan.
Bring your questions to a first visitQuestions families ask
At what age should my child start pointing?
Most children begin pointing between 9 and 14 months — first to ask for things they want, then to share interesting sights with you. Not pointing by around 15–18 months is worth a friendly developmental check.
My child reaches for things but doesn't point — is that okay?
Reaching is an early building block of pointing, which is encouraging. Keep modelling pointing yourself and pausing to give your child a chance. If a clear point hasn't emerged by around 15–18 months, a gentle check is sensible.
Does not pointing mean my child has autism?
Not on its own. Pointing is one early communication item among many, and many children who are slower to point develop typically. A clinician looks at the whole picture — gestures, shared attention, babble — never a single sign. Any diagnosis is formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre.
How can I encourage my child to point?
Point and name things often, read picture books together, place favourite toys just out of reach so pointing is useful, pause and wait after asking 'where's the...?', and warmly celebrate every reach, look or sound.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
References behind this answer.
- Source referenceCDC: Developmental milestones and early gestures
- Organisation website · further readingAAP HealthyChildren.org: Early communication
- Organisation website · further readingASHA: Early gestures and joint attention
References are supplied with this answer. An organisation homepage offers further reading; it does not establish an independent review of this page.
Content attribution: SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network.
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