As parents, we eagerly wait for our little ones to reach new milestones such as crawling, walking, and talking. Another exciting milestone is when our babies start to recognize their surroundings and the people in them. But at what age does this typically happen?
Birth to Three Months: Recognizing Familiar Sounds and Smells
From the moment a baby is born, they are already starting to recognize familiar sounds and smells. They can recognize their mother's voice and smell, and will turn their head towards it. Babies also have a preference for their mother's breast milk over another mother's milk, showing that they can distinguish between smells.
During the first three months, babies will also start to recognize familiar sounds such as the sound of their parent's voices or their favorite toy.
Three to Six Months: Recognizing Faces and Expressions
Between three to six months, babies start to recognize faces and expressions. They may show a preference for familiar faces and will start to smile at them. They may also start to imitate facial expressions, such as sticking out their tongue when someone else does.
This is also the time when babies start to develop object permanence, meaning they understand that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. This is an important cognitive milestone that contributes to their ability to recognize people and objects.
Six to Nine Months: Separation Anxiety
Between six to nine months, babies start to develop separation anxiety. They have a strong attachment to their primary caregiver and may become upset when they are separated. This is a sign that they have a clear recognition of their caregiver.
Babies at this age also start to recognize their own name and may turn their head towards it when called. They may also start to recognize familiar objects and toys, showing a growing awareness of their surroundings.
Nine to Twelve Months: Pointing and Gesturing
Between nine to twelve months, babies start to use gestures such as pointing and waving to communicate. They may also start to understand simple words such as "no" and "bye-bye".
Babies at this age also have a growing awareness of their own body and may start to recognize themselves in a mirror. They may also start to recognize family members who they haven't seen in a while, showing a stronger long-term memory.
Conclusion
Overall, babies start to recognize their surroundings and the people in them from a very young age. It is a gradual process that starts with recognizing familiar sounds and smells and progresses to recognizing faces, objects, and using gestures to communicate.
As parents, it is important to provide a safe and supportive environment that helps our babies develop their recognition skills. By interacting with them, talking to them, and showing them new things, we can help them reach these important developmental milestones.