Baby Not Imitating Actions or Gestures
Medically reviewed by Dr. Emily Torres, PhD, CCC-SLP · Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist
Content reviewed against published CDC, AAP, NIH guidelines
Last reviewed:
Behavioral development varies greatly from child to child. If you have noticed baby not imitating actions or gestures, here is what you need to know.
The short answer
Imitation is one of the most important developmental skills because it is the foundation for learning language, social skills, and play. Babies typically begin imitating simple actions (sticking out tongue) in the first weeks, progress to imitating sounds and gestures (waving, clapping) by 9-12 months, and imitate complex actions and words by 12-18 months. If your baby is not imitating any actions or gestures by 12 months, or not imitating words by 18 months, a developmental screening is recommended.
Key takeaways
- Imitation is one of the most important developmental skills because it is the foundation for learning language, social skills, and play. Babies typically begin imitating simple actions (sticking out tongue) in the first weeks, progress to imitating sounds and gestures (waving, clapping) by 9-12 months, and imitate complex actions and words by 12-18 months. If your baby is not imitating any actions or gestures by 12 months, or not imitating words by 18 months, a developmental screening is recommended.
- Usually normal when: Your baby imitates some things but not others - they have preferences for what they copy
- Call your doctor if: Your baby has lost imitation skills they previously had - this regression needs immediate evaluation
- Varies by age — see the age-by-age breakdown below
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What Parents Should Know
According to CDC, AAP, NIH guidelines, imitation is one of the most important developmental skills because it is the foundation for learning language, social skills, and play. Babies typically begin imitating simple actions (sticking out tongue) in the first weeks, progress to imitating sounds and gestures (waving, clapping) by 9-12 months, and imitate complex actions and words by 12-18 months. If your baby is not imitating any actions or gestures by 12 months, or not imitating words by 18 months, a developmental screening is recommended. At 0-6 months, very young babies can imitate simple facial expressions like sticking out the tongue or opening the mouth wide. By 3-4 months, they begin to imitate sounds (cooing back when you coo). By 6 months, your baby may imitate some mouth movements and vowel sounds. At this age, imitation requires face-to-face interaction and your baby being in an alert, calm state. If your baby makes eye contact and responds to your face even without clear imitation, social development is progressing. It is generally considered normal when your baby imitates some things but not others - they have preferences for what they copy. However, you should contact your pediatrician promptly if your baby has lost imitation skills they previously had - this regression needs immediate evaluation.
Normal vs. Concerning
By Age
What to expect by age
0-6 months
Very young babies can imitate simple facial expressions like sticking out the tongue or opening the mouth wide. By 3-4 months, they begin to imitate sounds (cooing back when you coo). By 6 months, your baby may imitate some mouth movements and vowel sounds. At this age, imitation requires face-to-face interaction and your baby being in an alert, calm state. If your baby makes eye contact and responds to your face even without clear imitation, social development is progressing.
6-9 months
Imitation of actions begins - your baby may start to copy banging objects, clapping (often imprecise at first), or making specific sounds. They are watching you carefully and trying to reproduce what they see. Model simple actions repeatedly and celebrate any attempts. At this stage, imitation may be delayed (they try to do it hours or days later) rather than immediate. Babies learn through repetition, so demonstrate the same actions many times.
9-12 months
This is a critical period for gestural imitation. By 12 months, most babies can wave bye-bye, clap on request, play peek-a-boo, and copy simple actions like putting a phone to the ear. If your baby is not imitating any gestures by 12 months, discuss this with your pediatrician. Absence of imitation at this age can be an early sign of autism spectrum disorder, hearing loss, or other developmental differences. However, some babies are late imitators and catch up quickly.
12-24 months
Imitation expands to include words (repeating words you say), complex actions (pretending to cook after watching you), and social behaviors (blowing kisses, high-fives). By 18 months, your toddler should be imitating at least some words and many actions. If your toddler at 18 months does not imitate words, does not copy everyday actions, and does not engage in any pretend play by 24 months, a developmental evaluation is recommended. Imitation is a key skill assessed in autism screening.
What to Tell Your Pediatrician
- Describe when you first noticed baby not imitating actions or gestures and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your baby does not wave, clap, or imitate any gestures by 12 months.
- Mention if your toddler does not imitate any words by 18 months.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
What Should You Do?
When to take action
- Your baby imitates some things but not others - they have preferences for what they copy
- Your baby attempts to imitate but does it imperfectly (clapping by slapping hands on legs instead of together)
- Imitation is better in calm, one-on-one settings than in noisy or busy environments
- Your baby imitates familiar people more readily than strangers
- Your baby does not wave, clap, or imitate any gestures by 12 months
- Your toddler does not imitate any words by 18 months
- Your child does not copy everyday actions (talking on phone, brushing hair, feeding doll) by 18-24 months
- Your child used to imitate but has stopped
- Your baby has lost imitation skills they previously had - this regression needs immediate evaluation
- Your baby over 12 months shows no interest in what other people are doing and does not observe or copy any actions
- Lack of imitation combined with no pointing, no eye contact, and no response to name
What You Can Do at Home
- Keep track of when you notice baby not imitating actions or gestures — noting the time of day, duration, and any triggers can help your pediatrician.
- Remember that your baby imitates some things but not others - they have preferences for what they copy — this is generally within the range of normal.
- At 0-6 months, focus on observation rather than intervention unless your pediatrician advises otherwise.
- Respond consistently and calmly to your baby's behavior. Maintain predictable daily routines.
- While monitoring at home, seek immediate care if your baby has lost imitation skills they previously had - this regression needs immediate evaluation.
Related Conditions
Early Signs of Autism in Babies and Toddlers
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can sometimes be identified as early as 12-18 months, though most children are not diagnosed until age 2-3. Early signs include limited eye contact, not responding to their name, lack of pointing or showing, limited social smiling, and absence of pretend play. Having one or two of these signs does not mean your child has autism - many typically developing children share individual traits. However, a pattern of multiple social communication differences warrants evaluation. Early intervention, regardless of eventual diagnosis, consistently leads to the best outcomes.
Baby Not Interested in People - Poor Social Engagement
Babies are born social - from the first days of life, they prefer to look at faces over objects, respond to voices, and seek human connection. A baby who consistently prefers objects over people, does not look at faces, does not respond to their name by 12 months, and does not follow pointing or show things to others by 12-18 months may need a developmental evaluation. These social engagement skills are among the most important early developmental milestones and their absence is one of the earliest signs of autism spectrum disorder.
Baby Flat Affect - Limited Facial Expressions or Emotions
Babies should show a range of facial expressions from early infancy. A social smile (smiling in response to a face or voice) typically appears by 6-8 weeks. By 3-4 months, most babies are expressive - smiling, laughing, frowning, and showing surprise. A baby who consistently shows limited facial expressions, rarely smiles, and does not seem to react emotionally to their environment should be evaluated. While some babies are naturally more serious or observant, persistent flat affect can be an early sign of developmental differences, sensory issues, or, rarely, medical conditions.
Related Resources
Milestone Checklists by Age
Track your baby's developmental milestones from birth to 5 years with age-specific checklists.
Month-by-Month Development
Detailed monthly development guides from birth through 24 months.
When to Call the Doctor
General guide on when to call the pediatrician, visit urgent care, or go to the ER.
Frequently asked questions
Is baby not imitating actions or gestures normal?
When should I call the doctor about baby not imitating actions or gestures?
When is baby not imitating actions or gestures normal?
What causes baby not imitating actions or gestures?
What should I mention to my pediatrician about baby not imitating actions or gestures?
Is baby not imitating actions or gestures normal at 0-6 months?
Is baby not imitating actions or gestures normal at 6-9 months?
Should I go to the ER for baby not imitating actions or gestures?
Does baby not imitating actions or gestures go away on its own?
References
- [1]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important Milestones: Your Baby by 12 Months. CDC
- [2]American Academy of Pediatrics. Language Development. HealthyChildren.org. AAP
- [3]Vivanti G, Hamilton A. Imitation in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. 2014. NIH
Doctor Visit Checklist
Bring this checklist to your next pediatrician visit to discuss Baby Not Imitating Actions or Gestures.
Things to mention
- Describe when you first noticed baby not imitating actions or gestures and how it has changed over time.
- Note your baby's current age and which age-specific patterns you are seeing.
- Mention if your baby does not wave, clap, or imitate any gestures by 12 months.
- Mention if your toddler does not imitate any words by 18 months.
- Let your doctor know if you have noticed any related concerns, such as changes in feeding, sleep, or movement patterns.
- Bring a list of any questions or observations you want to discuss at the appointment.
Observations to share
- Your baby does not wave, clap, or imitate any gestures by 12 months
- Your toddler does not imitate any words by 18 months
- Your child does not copy everyday actions (talking on phone, brushing hair, feeding doll) by 18-24 months
Urgent signs to report immediately
- Your baby has lost imitation skills they previously had - this regression needs immediate evaluation
- Your baby over 12 months shows no interest in what other people are doing and does not observe or copy any actions
- Lack of imitation combined with no pointing, no eye contact, and no response to name
My notes
From ismybabyalright.com — free, evidence-based baby health guides
All content follows our editorial policy and is reviewed against published clinical guidelines.
2,705 evidence-based guides6 authoritative medical sources5 medical advisory board members
Related Resources
Bottom line
Most cases of baby not imitating actions or gestures are normal. Talk to your pediatrician if your baby has lost imitation skills they previously had - this regression needs immediate evaluation.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, reach out to your pediatrician. Worrying about your baby means you care — that is a good thing.
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Related Behavior Concerns
Early Signs of Autism in Babies and Toddlers
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can sometimes be identified as early as 12-18 months, though most children are not diagnosed until age 2-3. Early signs include limited eye contact, not responding to their name, lack of pointing or showing, limited social smiling, and absence of pretend play. Having one or two of these signs does not mean your child has autism - many typically developing children share individual traits. However, a pattern of multiple social communication differences warrants evaluation. Early intervention, regardless of eventual diagnosis, consistently leads to the best outcomes.
Baby Not Interested in People - Poor Social Engagement
Babies are born social - from the first days of life, they prefer to look at faces over objects, respond to voices, and seek human connection. A baby who consistently prefers objects over people, does not look at faces, does not respond to their name by 12 months, and does not follow pointing or show things to others by 12-18 months may need a developmental evaluation. These social engagement skills are among the most important early developmental milestones and their absence is one of the earliest signs of autism spectrum disorder.
Baby Flat Affect - Limited Facial Expressions or Emotions
Babies should show a range of facial expressions from early infancy. A social smile (smiling in response to a face or voice) typically appears by 6-8 weeks. By 3-4 months, most babies are expressive - smiling, laughing, frowning, and showing surprise. A baby who consistently shows limited facial expressions, rarely smiles, and does not seem to react emotionally to their environment should be evaluated. While some babies are naturally more serious or observant, persistent flat affect can be an early sign of developmental differences, sensory issues, or, rarely, medical conditions.
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