When Does Baby Start Waving? Age, Signs and Ways To Encourage

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Babies have a heart-melting way of communicating. Their non-verbal communication involves a lot of hand-waving and is generally one of the first ways they engage in social interaction before developing speech skills. Are you curious to know when do babies wave? This post will answer your question.

Waving is one of those non-verbal gestures that determine the baby’s steady and healthy growth, indicating that they are growing towards the required developmental milestone. As parents, you can contribute to this motor development and help them in simple ways.

Read on to know about the signs of waving, along with ways to encourage it and when you should be concerned.

In This Article

When Do Babies Wave?

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The first wave movement among full-term infants is often observed around the age of ten months (1). Babies usually learn to copy gestures at the age of nine months, thus, some nine-month-olds may start waving back if you wave at them (2).

Babies may not understand the purpose of waving and its associated meanings until they are 12 months old. It is mostly after the first birthday a baby may wave with the intent of greeting someone with “hello” or “goodbye” (3). The toddler will gradually hone the skill as they grow older, making their waves smoother and purposeful.

Do remember

Babies mimicking other people’s movements is more than simply a charming trick. It is evidence that they are developing their nonverbal communication abilities.

Signs That A Baby Is Ready To Wave

Baby points fingers is a sign that it is ready to wave

Image: IStock

A baby who is ready to wave may show various fine motor movementsⁱAbilities where one needs to use the small muscles in their hands, fingers, and wrists to perform specific movements. of the hands and fingers. You may also notice certain cognitive milestonesⁱIndicators of a baby’s mental development, including their ability to think, explore, learn, and decipher things. . Most of these achievements occur at the age of nine months and are stated below (4).

Points at things with their fingers
Copies hand movements and gestures
Moves objects from one hand to another
Picks objects with index finger and thumb (pincer grasp)
Put things to mouth
Understands “no” and may understand other single-word instructions

Quick fact

While you may see a proper wave from your baby around ten months, infants start making waving-like hand movements to reach for objects as early as when they are three to five months old (9).

Some nine-month-olds may also pull to stand, that is, hold an object and pull themselves into a standing position. This milestone indicates better wrist strength, control, and dexterity, which are usually needed to wave.

How And When To Encourage Waving?

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In the beginning, your baby may wave at anything or anyone. The key to helping them associate the action to a word or intent is practice. Therefore, say words such as “hi,” “hello,” “bye,” or “bye-bye” each time you wave to your baby. Your baby will gradually start to use waving as a non-verbal communication gesture.

You may also consider rhymes or songs to make waving memorable. For instance, sing the first verse of the rhyme “My Hands Wave Hello” to make learning fun. Below is the first verse of the rhyme.

My hands wave hello,
My hands wave hello,
Every time I see my friends,
My hands wave hello.

You may replace the word “hello” with “bye-bye” and the word “friend” with a person-specific call or another noun. This activity may also help the baby associate new words with people and objects.

Quick tip

You can also introduce other waving-related gestures, such as clapping and teaching by gently holding their hand and waving to say ‘bye.’ When your baby attempts the gesture, encourage them with positive words to boost their confidence (10).

What If Your Baby Doesn’t Wave?

Speak to a pediatrician if toddler does not wave by 15 months

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If your baby is younger than 12 months, wait until their first birthday. Most infants learn to wave by their first birthday when they step into toddlerhood. Each child is different and may achieve developmental milestones at a slightly different age than their peers. Therefore, give your toddler a month or two if they do not wave even after their first birthday.

You may consider speaking to a pediatrician if your toddler does not wave even after attaining the age of 15 months (5). Most babies and toddlers who display poor achievement of developmental milestones also display other signs of possible developmental disorders. You may stay alert to the following developmental delaysⁱA delay in the typical physical, emotional, or mental growth and development of a child. at different ages (6).

Does not bring hands to mouth by two months
Does not hold the head steady by four months
Does not reach out to objects by six months
Has trouble bringing objects to mouth by six months
Does not roll over at least in one direction by six months
Does not sit with help by nine months
Has trouble holding objects or passing them from one hand to another by nine months
Does not copy any gesture by 12 months

What Other Milestones Will Your Baby Meet?

Here are a few notable developmental milestones a baby usually reaches by the time they learn to wave at nine to ten months of age (1).

Uses pincer grasp to hold small objects
Picks toys or other objects from the floor
Tries self-feed small pieces of food items (Self-feeding)
Holds a bottle or cup in the hands
Hits objects held in hands together
Copies gestures, such as clapping
Gets into a sitting position and sits without help
Crawls and pulls to stand

What Comes After Waving?

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Most babies become good at waving by their first birthday. You may look forward to the following notable developmental milestones from 12 to 24 months (6).

Walks while holding objects (Cruising)
May take a few steps without support
Stands without support
Follows simple instructions
Understands requests
Uses specific gestures to communicate, such as shaking head to say “no”
Walks up and down the stairs
Uses spoon to self-feed
Drinks from an open cup
May undress a few pieces of clothing
Shows more specific and purposeful gestures
Develops adequate hand dexterity to draw lines and simple shapes

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is waving a learned behavior?

Babies typically start waving between 9-12 months of age and learn to wave through observation and imitation of others around them. They may wave to say hi or just when they are curious. They also develop the physical ability to wave through practice and repetition. Waving is a form of nonverbal communication and is an important milestone in a baby’s development, helping to build social and emotional skills (7).

2. Do some babies skip clapping?

Some babies may skip clapping as a developmental milestone. Clapping usually develops between 9-12 months of age, but some babies may not learn to clap until later or may not be interested in clapping. Every baby develops at their own pace and may skip certain milestones or develop others earlier or later. Skipping clapping is not a cause for concern unless other developmental delays or concerns accompany it.

3. What are some other ways babies communicate before they start waving?

Babies communicate in multiple ways before they learn to wave. For example, they express themselves through crying, facial expressions like smiling, body movements such as kicking and reaching, and gestures like pointing or grabbing. Baby cooing and baby babbling are also signs of communication.These non-verbal signals allow them to convey their needs, emotions, and interact with their caregivers (7).

4. What are some common mistakes parents make when teaching their baby to wave?

Parents often make mistakes when teaching their baby to wave, such as being impatient and expecting instant success. In addition, insufficient encouragement and reinforcement, failure to demonstrate the behavior, and inconsistent practice are common errors.

5. Do autistic babies wave or clap?

The waving or clapping behaviors of autistic babies can vary due to differences in their social communication and interaction skills. While some autistic babies may still wave or clap, others may not engage in these gestures as often or similarly to typically developing babies (8).

Having a baby can make you curious about their developmental milestones, so you may wonder when babies start waving at people. This cute gesture with their tiny hands signifies that your baby is growing healthily, both physically and cognitively. So keep track of the various body movements and gestures they start displaying at different ages. Do not worry if such developments are slightly delayed, but try engaging them in activities that can aid these developments. However, if you notice a drastic deviation from the general timeline, consult your pediatrician to rule out any underlying issues and for prompt management.

Infographic: Additional Methods To Encourage Baby Waving

Witnessing a baby wave at you is not just one of many adorable gestures but a milestone that most babies attain during their first year. Read through this infographic to learn how you may encourage your baby’s waving movements with simple tips, joyful songs, and actions.

Key Pointers

Babies usually start waving around 10 months of age.
When they point their fingers towards something, copy movements, or put things in their mouth, you can understand they are ready to wave.
Use words such as hi or bye each time you wave and help them learn the concept.
If your baby has not started waving after 15 months of age, you may consult a pediatrician.

Illustration: When Do Babies Wave? Age Signs And When To Worry

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

1. Developmental milestones; University of Washington
2. Important Milestones: Your Baby By Nine Months; CDC
3. Developmental milestones record – 12 months; U.S. National Library of Medicine
4. Your baby’s developmental milestones at 9 months; UNICEF
5. 15-18 months: toddler development; Raising Children Network (Australia)
6. Milestone Moments; CDC
7. Communication and talking: what to expect in the early years; Raising Children Network Australia
8. Autism: early signs in young children; Raising Children Network Australia
9. Infant – newborn development; National Library of Medicine
10. Parenting tips for the first two years of life; UNICEF

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Dr. Dur Afshar AghaMS

Dr. Dur Afshar Agha is a consultant pediatrician with around 26 years of experience in various medical facilities both in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. She has headed the Department of Preventive Pediatrics at the prestigious, Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health in Pakistan and is a life member of the Pakistan Paediatric Association.

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