Milestone: Pointer power
Pointing is a powerful way for babies to communicate before they have all the words (or any words!) to say what they’re thinking.
This non-verbal gesture helps babies make it known what or who they want. (That toy! Mommy! A dog is barking over there! Daddy is coming in the door!). It’s also a way to create a shared experience. Your baby will delight in bringing something to your attention that they want you to see too.
By 12 months, you’ll probably start seeing a lot of pointing (and maybe even some now!). Get those pointing skills on point (pun intended), by helping them understand how the gesture works.
- Point at things you see when you’re out and about. Is that a fire truck? Do you see the birds in the tree? Look at the puppy! Better yet, pointing while naming objects will help them build up their vocabulary.
- Help them master the hand motion by taking their tiny hand in yours and pointing together.
- Be sure to ask your baby lots of questions throughout the day that can motivate them to point to an object.
- When you’re reading, point at pictures. Soon enough, they’ll do the same.
No matter when this milestone happens, you’ll love seeing your baby so excited about the world around them!
Fostering Your Baby’s Independence
Your baby will always be “your baby,” but we bet you’re already starting to see signs of independence. It’s exhilarating and heartwarming to watch your little one take on new challenges, participate with you in activities and have a (strong-willed) mind of their own. Yep, you’ve actually considered duct-taping the diaper together because of their new trick of pulling it off all.the.time.
How you can encourage independence:
- Give your baby room to explore. Shift things around in the kitchen so there’s a low drawer filled only with baby-safe objects like Tupperware, plastic or wooden serving utensils and measuring cups. As you know all too well, babies love to open doors, drawers and cabinets. So create one you don’t have to worry about. Let them go to town sorting and stacking while you get something done nearby. Create similar drawers or bins in the play area so it’s easy for your baby to access their favorite things.
- Let them “help.” Is this going to be efficient or get you out of the house faster? Nope, not a chance. But it’s really beneficial to give your baby lots of opportunities to do things with you. Whether that’s getting dressed (helping to pull on their shirt or pants) or being in charge of packing a toy in the diaper bag, these little joint tasks set the stage for more independence and confidence in their abilities. Soon enough, they’ll actually put on their hat instead of just tossing it out the side of the stroller.
- Start fostering solo play. It’s OK for you to take a break from blocks and choo-choo trains for a bit. (Remember what it’s like to relax? We didn’t think so.) Let your baby get the hang of solo play, which is crucial for development and something they’ll rely on throughout life. Solo play is a positive learning experience that boosts self-reliance, imagination and problem-solving skills. Don’t leave your baby alone, but let them play on their own while you sit nearby. Your kiddo may not be jazzed about solo play at first (duh, they want to be with you 24/7!), but it’s important to help them ease into it. Play together and then when you see your tot become really engaged in a toy, step away for just a couple minutes at a time. Check in frequently so they know you’re not far. Eventually, you’ll be able to stretch the timeframes out a bit more.
Tip: If your baby seems bored with the go-to toys (hence solo play isn’t going so well), set up a water station for an indoor adventure. Don’t worry, a “water station” = a towel or two spread out on the kitchen floor, a couple of large Tupperwares filled with 1-2 inches of water and a variety of small cups, spoons or even bath toys. This new, exciting set-up may even score you 10 minutes to drink a cup of coffee at the table while your little one is busy having a blast down below.
Babylist Staff
Editor
Babylist editors and writers are parents themselves and have years of experience writing and researching, coming from media outlets like Motherly, the SF Chronicle, the New York Times and the Daily Beast, and the fields of early childhood education and publishing. We research and test hundreds of products, survey real Babylist parents and consult reviews in order to recommend the best products and gear for your growing family.
