Gestures are body movements a baby uses to communicate before speaking, such as waving, raising their arms to be picked up, shaking their head and pointing. The CDC lists waving "bye-bye" as a milestone by 1 year.
Key takeaways
- Gestures are an important bridge to first words.
- Many appear between 9 and 12 months.
- Pointing to ask for things is a milestone by 15 months.
What you can do
- Use gestures yourself with words: wave as you say "bye-bye".
- Respond to your baby's gestures as real communication.
When to talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if your baby uses few or no gestures by 12 months.
