Baby clapping at 6 months

When you say “hello” or “bye-bye” and your baby flaps their hand in response, it’s first and foremost cute. It also could count as the very beginning of them developing language.

After all, a wave is a nonverbal communication skill that packs meaning. Look at me!

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Baby waving at 6 months

Baby waving at 7 months

Look at you! You’re coming my way! See you later! Yes, it’s a developmental milestone, and like all milestones it packs expectations for parents.

Baby clapping at 7 months

But take it from the experts: A wave is something to simply be enjoyed. So when do babies wave? Most babies start waving by 12 months, but even if your baby doesn’t, that isn’t necessarily cause for concern.

As a general rule, you can expect your baby to purposefully wave “hi” or “bye” around 9 months of age, says Galena Rhoades, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Denver and director of the MotherWise program, a non-profit that provides support for pregnant people and new parents.

“But there’s such a wide range,” Rhoades adds. It’s not uncommon to see a baby wave as early as 6 months or as late as 12 months.

Reachin

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