When should my child start pointing at things?

That first little finger reaching out to show you the moon — pointing is one of the loveliest milestones, and a window into how your child connects and communicates.

In short

Most children begin pointing between about 9 and 14 months — first reaching to request things they want (around 9–12 months), then pointing to share and show you something interesting (around 12–14 months). By 15–18 months, pointing to show and to share attention is usually well established. Pointing is a wonderful early sign of social communication, so it's worth gently watching — but children vary, and a little later than average is often perfectly fine.

How pointing develops

There are two kinds of pointing, and both matter:

• Requesting (imperative) pointing — "I want that." Often appears first, around 9–12 months, as your baby reaches or points towards a snack or toy out of reach.
• Sharing (declarative) pointing — "Look at that with me!" Usually emerges by 12–14 months, when your child points at a dog or aeroplane and then looks back at you to share the moment. This joint attention — pointing, then checking your face — is an especially rich sign of growing communication.

Alongside pointing, look for other early gestures by around 12 months: waving bye-bye, clapping, reaching up to be picked up, and showing or giving you objects. These all weave together into the foundations of language and connection.

When a gentle check helps

Every child grows at their own pace, but a developmental check is a kind, sensible step if by around 15–18 months your child:

• isn't pointing or using other gestures to ask for or show things, or
• doesn't follow your point when you say "look!", or
• rarely looks back to share a moment with you, or
• has lost gestures or words they once had.

This isn't cause for alarm — it's simply information. Early support, when it's needed, is gentle and play-based, and children often respond beautifully.

The Pinnacle way

AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or checklist. If you'd like reassurance or a fuller picture, our team can map your child's developmental profile and, where helpful, shape playful support through speech therapy. You can also begin from our home page to find your nearest centre across our 70+ locations.

Trusted sources

CDC developmental-milestones guidance describes pointing and gesture use through the first and second years; the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) outlines social-communication milestones; WHO and ASHA describe joint attention and early gesture as foundations of language.

Next step — Curious or simply want peace of mind? Book a developmental check with a Pinnacle clinician.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.