Alexis Irazoque, M.S., CCC-SLP
The “16 gestures by 16 months” milestone describes a goal of using at least 16 different gestures to communicate by around 16 months. Pointing, reaching, and other gestures are an important part of early communication. Babies often use them to share their wants, interests, and ideas before they can say many words.
Think of these baby gestures as milestones to look for, not a checklist your child needs to complete. If you’re wondering whether your toddler’s communication is on track, an Expressable speech therapist can help you know what to look for.
Key takeaways
The 16 gestures by 16 months milestone is a helpful developmental guideline, not a strict checklist. Babies may develop gestures at different rates, and the gestures they use can vary.
Gestures give babies and toddlers a way to communicate before they have many spoken words. Pointing, waving, reaching, and showing help children express their needs and ideas.
You can encourage gestures during everyday routines. Use gestures yourself, pair them with simple words, and follow your child’s interests.
Using fewer gestures does not mean a child has a delay. It’s more helpful to look at your child’s overall communication and whether they keep gaining new skills.
A speech therapist can help if you have concerns about your child’s communication. They can look at gestures along with sounds, words, understanding, and play to get a full picture of your child’s strengths and needs.
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Screener for childrenWhat are the 16 gestures by 16 months?
The 16 gestures by 16 months milestone comes from the FIRST WORDS Project, which tracks how babies’ gestures grow and change from about 9 to 16 months.
By 16 months, children may be using at least 16 different gestures to communicate. The specific gestures can vary from child to child. They may also look different across families and cultures.
Baby gestures by age
Here is the list of baby and toddler gestures to look for between 9 and 16 months:
9 months: Giving an object to someone, shaking head “no”
10 months: Reaching, raising arms
11 months: Showing an object to someone, waving
12 months: Open-hand pointing, tapping
13 months: Clapping, blowing a kiss
14 months: Pointing with the index finger, making a “shhh” gesture
15 months: Nodding “yes,” thumbs up, raising a hand to mean “wait”
16 months: “I don’t know” (a shrug or both hands up), high five, peace sign, and other symbolic gestures
Keep in mind that your child doesn’t need to check off every gesture on this list in exactly this order. Children develop at different rates. The bigger goal is to see their gesture vocabulary (the number and variety of meaningful gestures they use) growing over time. Here's a closer look at how baby gestures develop by age.
9-12 months: Early gestures begin
Around 9 months, babies may start using simple gestures like giving an object or shaking their head “no.” These gestures often develop naturally during everyday interactions, such as handing a toy to a parent or turning away from food they don’t want.
By 10 months, babies may start reaching for things they want or raising their arms to ask to be picked up. Around 11 months, they may begin showing objects to share their interests. They may also wave during familiar routines like saying hello or goodbye.
Around 12 months, gestures may become more intentional or purposeful. For example, your baby might point with an open hand or tap an object to get your attention or show you something interesting.
13-16 months: Gestures become more symbolic
Between 13 and 16 months, children continue adding gestures that have more specific meanings. They may clap, blow a kiss, point with one finger, nod “yes,” give a thumbs-up, or raise their hand to mean “wait.”
By 16 months, children may also use more symbolic gestures, such as “I don’t know,” a high five, or a peace sign. These gestures are a little more like words because your child is using a specific action to communicate a specific idea.
“Remember, gestures don’t have to look perfect to count as communication,” says Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP, an Expressable speech therapist and mom of three. “What matters most is that your child is using gestures intentionally to connect with you and share their needs, interests, and ideas.”
Learn more about baby gestures in this quick video from Expressable speech therapist Carlie Lepore, M.S., CCC-SLP.
Find out how young children learn language, along with expert tips from speech therapists about how to teach your toddler to talk.
Why are gestures important for communication?
Before babies have many words, gestures give them a way to communicate what they want, notice, and think about. A point might mean “I want that.” A wave can mean “bye-bye,” and raised arms might mean “pick me up.”
Gestures also create chances for back-and-forth interaction. When your child points to a dog and you say, “Yes! A dog!,” you’re following their lead, sharing attention, and giving them a word for what they’re seeing.
Research has found a connection between early gesture use and later language development. In some studies, children who used more gestures at an early age had larger vocabularies later.
How do gestures support language development?
“Think of gestures as another tool your child can use to get a message across,” Barnes explains. “Your child may communicate an idea with a gesture before they have the words to say it.”
For example, your baby might point to a ball before they can say “ball.” When you respond with “You found the ball!” you’re helping connect the gesture, the object, and the spoken word.
Research also suggests that children may begin combining gestures and words before they regularly combine two spoken words. This makes gestures an important part of early language development!
Are gestures considered language?
Gestures are a type of nonverbal communication, which means they allow us to share a message without spoken words. Some are simple social gestures, like waving hello. Others have a more specific meaning, like giving a thumbs-up to mean “yes” or “good.”
Gestures aren’t the same as spoken language, but they’re an important part of early communication. They give your child a way to express wants, needs, interests, and ideas while their spoken vocabulary is still developing.
Using gestures doesn’t mean your child is less likely to learn to talk.
“And using gestures doesn’t mean your child is less likely to talk,” Barnes says. In fact, speech therapists often encourage parents to pair gestures with spoken words because it gives children a chance to connect what they’re doing with the words they hear.
Want more ideas for encouraging early communication? Check out our guide on how to help your child use gestures and signs to communicate.
Learn how to decode your child’s nonverbal language–and how signs and gestures can help them communicate before they can speak.
Other communication milestones for 16-month-olds
Gestures are just one piece of the communication puzzle. Around 16 months, you may see your toddler using a mix of eye gaze, facial expressions, sounds, gestures, words, play, and understanding to connect with other people.
Some communication milestones you may notice around this age include:
Pointing to ask for something, get help, or share an interest
Showing you objects they find interesting
Following simple directions, especially when paired with a gesture
Looking toward familiar objects when you name them
Imitating actions or gestures they see others use
Using facial expressions and eye gaze to share emotions and attention
Understanding familiar words for people, objects, or actions
Using sounds and words to communicate (many toddlers say their first word at around 12 months old)
For example, the CDC lists these milestones for 15-month-olds: pointing to ask for something or get help, following directions paired with words or gestures, and trying to say one or two words besides “mama” or “dada.”
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) also notes that children ages 13 to 18 months may shake their head “no” and nod “yes”; use gestures such as clapping or giving a high five; and combine sounds, syllables, and real words with speech-like intonation.
These milestones can give you a general idea of what communication may look like at this age, but there’s plenty of variation among toddlers. Your child may be developing some skills earlier and others later.
1-year-olds typically undergo a major leap in their language, vocabulary, and comprehension. Watch for these speech and language milestones.
What if my 16-month-old isn't using many gestures?
If your toddler isn’t using many gestures, try not to panic. One missed milestone doesn’t mean your child has a speech delay. Developmental milestones are meant to provide guidance, not diagnose a child.
Instead, look at your child’s overall communication. Are they finding other ways to connect with you, such as using sounds, facial expressions, or words? Are they continuing to gain new skills?
You may want to talk with your child’s pediatrician or a licensed speech-language pathologist (also known as a speech therapist) if your toddler isn’t doing the following:
Pointing
Showing you objects
Sharing attention with another person (also called joint attention)
Imitating gestures or sounds
Understanding familiar language
Communicating in other ways
What are the signs of speech delay in a 2-year-old? Learn what to watch for, key milestones, and when to seek a speech evaluation.
How can I teach my baby new gestures?
Some of the best times to teach gestures happen naturally throughout your day, when your child already has something they want to communicate.
Here are a few simple ways to encourage gestures at home.
1 Model, or use, gestures yourself during everyday routines
Choose a few gestures that fit into your child’s day, and use them often. For example:
Wave: Say “bye-bye!” when someone leaves or you finish an activity.
Point: Say “Look! A dog!” when you see something interesting.
Raise your arms: Say “Up!” before picking your child up.
Clap: Say “Yay!” when something exciting happens.
Nod or shake your head: Pair “yes” or “no” with the matching head movement.
Blow a kiss: Say “Bye!” and blow a kiss when someone leaves.
Songs and books are another easy way to practice. Wave during “Wheels on the Bus,” clap along to a favorite song, or point to pictures while you name them.
2 Pair gestures with words
Whenever you use a gesture, say the word or phrase that goes with it. “Keep your language short and repeat it often,” Barnes adds. You might raise your arms and say “up,” point and say “look,” or wave and say “bye-bye.”
3 Follow your child’s interests
Start with what your child already loves and wants to communicate about. If your child loves snacks, you might model signs for “more,” “eat,” or “all done” while saying the word. If animals are a favorite, point and say “Look! Dog!” during a walk or while reading a book.
When you follow your child’s interests, communication has a purpose. Your child isn’t just copying a gesture because you asked—they have a reason to join in.
4 Give your child time to respond
After you model a gesture and word, pause and give your child a chance to respond. They might look at you, make a sound, reach, point, or use another gesture.
A simple pattern to try is: model – pause – wait – then respond.
You don’t need to repeatedly ask, “Say ___” or “Do this.” Instead, create a chance for your child to communicate, then respond to whatever they do, even if it looks different from your example.
Offering choices can be especially helpful. Hold up two snacks or toys and ask, “Which one?” Then wait. Your child might point, reach, look toward one choice, or use another gesture to answer. When they do, respond by giving them what they chose.
5 Celebrate when your child tries to communicate
Your child’s first wave, point, or clap may not look exactly like yours, and that’s OK! Early gestures can be small, wobbly, or inconsistent while your child is figuring things out.
Focus on the message your child is trying to share. If they reach toward you, you might say, “Up!” and pick them up. If they point toward a snack, you could say, “You want a snack!”
When you respond to their attempts, you’re showing your child that their communication works.
When should I be concerned about my child's gestures?
One missed gesture doesn’t mean your child has a developmental delay. Children develop at different rates, so it’s more helpful to look at the overall pattern of communication than at one specific skill.
Consider talking to your child’s pediatrician or a speech therapist if your child:
Uses very few or no gestures
Rarely points or shows objects to share interest
Rarely tries to communicate with other people
Doesn’t seem to use gestures for a purpose, such as pointing to what they want or waving goodbye
Has difficulty imitating gestures, sounds, or actions
Has a hard time understanding familiar words or simple directions
Isn’t showing other expected social communication skills
Loses communication skills they had before
Issues like these can sometimes be linked to language delays or other developmental differences.
If you’re concerned about your child’s communication, a speech therapist can help you understand whether more support may be helpful. An evaluation with a speech therapist looks at the child’s communication and development as a whole.
“Support like speech therapy can also give you practical strategies to use during your child’s daily routines. The goal is to help your child build ways to connect, understand, and express themselves,” says Barnes.
Social skills like eye contact and turn taking help kids communicate and interact with others. Here's how to teach your child to use them.
What does speech therapy look like for a young toddler?
Speech therapy can support communication before, during, and after your child starts talking. A speech therapist looks at much more than how many words a child can say.
During an evaluation, the speech therapist may look at your child’s gestures, sounds, words, understanding, play skills, and social communication. This helps the therapist understand your child’s strengths and identify areas where speech therapy may be helpful.
For toddlers, speech therapy is often play-based and interactive. Instead of sitting at a table practicing words for an entire session, the speech therapist might use toys, books, songs, or other activities your child enjoys to create natural chances for communication.
Inside the session: Watch a toddler having fun with online speech therapy!
Watch hereDepending on your child’s needs, a therapist might work on skills such as:
Pointing or showing objects to communicate
Using gestures to request or protest
Imitating actions and sounds
Understanding and following simple directions
Using sounds, words, or gestures to communicate wants and needs
Combining gestures and words
Building early social communication skills
You’re an important part of the process, too! Online speech therapy allows caregivers to join in their child’s sessions, so you learn how to help them practice at home. That way your child will make faster progress.
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You don’t have to figure out your child’s communication milestones on your own. Whether your toddler is using lots of gestures, just starting to point and wave, or communicating in ways you didn’t expect, a speech therapist can help you understand what you’re seeing and what to do next.
Not sure if your child is on track? Start with Expressable’s free online speech and language screener. It’s tailored to your child’s age and provides personalized results, including whether a speech evaluation may be recommended.
Your child’s communication grows through all those little everyday moments. A wave across the room, a point toward a favorite toy, or a tiny “up!” can be an important step toward connecting with the people around them.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
A gesture is a movement made on purpose to communicate a message without spoken words. Pointing, waving, reaching, showing an object, nodding, shaking the head, clapping, and giving a high five are all examples of gestures a toddler may use.
Gestures give toddlers another way to communicate while their spoken language is developing. Research has found connections between early gesture use and later vocabulary development. Children may combine gestures with words before regularly saying spoken words.
No. The gestures toddlers use can vary based on their development, interests, family routines, and cultural experiences. The “16 gestures by 16 months” milestone is meant to describe children continuing to learn and use new gestures, rather than a specific list of gestures that all toddlers need to hit.
Yes. Not reaching exactly 16 gestures by 16 months does not mean a child has a delay. It’s important to consider the child’s overall communication, including gestures, sounds, words, eye gaze, understanding, play, and social interaction.
Talk with a speech therapist if your child uses very few or no gestures, rarely points or shows objects, has difficulty communicating in other ways, or is not gaining new communication skills. You should also seek professional guidance if your child loses a communication skill they had before.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
