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Wondering when your baby will recognize your face, her teddy bear — and herself? Here's when children start to recognize familiar objects and people. Back to Top Your baby is drawn to your face from the moment she’s born. (And you to hers!) If her eyes aren’t yet lighting up with excitement when you walk into the room though, don’t take it personally. Newborns need their caregivers to grow, learn and thrive. So it’s no surprise that they’re hardwired to seek out faces and find them more fascinating than most anything else. But recognizing certain faces and objects — including yours, other caregivers and even her own — is a gradual process that takes longer to unfold. When do babies recognize familiar faces and objects?Your little looker is born with facial and object recognition skills that will sharpen over the course of several months. As your infant begins to spend more time awake and alert, she'll observe and study the world around her. In time, she'll recognize favorite toys, familiar objects, people and, eventually, herself.
Activities to help your child recognize faces and objectsYour cutie hones her social and communication skills by interacting with others, especially you. Make the most of it with these simple playtime activities. Continue Reading Below
What not to worry aboutAs your baby learns to recognize familiar playthings and faces, she may also begin to show strong preferences for her favorites. It's no coincidence that many babies start to exhibit separation anxiety and stranger anxiety starting around 6 months, just when object recognition and object permanence both start to really click in baby's brain. And it’s normal for these feelings to intensify between 8 and 12 months, as your baby begins to morph into a more independent toddler. Of course, if you have any concerns about your baby's development, bring them up with your pediatrician. In particular, mention to the doctor if your baby doesn't seem to be able to recognize familiar people by the 9-month mark. From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
Was this article helpful? Trending On What to ExpectAt which age does an infant start to recognize familiar faces and objects?Studies have shown that even newborns, with their eyesight limited to about 12 inches, prefer to look at familiar faces — especially yours. Months 2 to 4: Your baby will start to recognize her primary caregivers' faces, and by the 4-month mark, she'll recognize familiar faces and objects from a distance.
At what age do babies start recognizing?“Around 6 months, they will probably recognize family members they see and interact with once a week. If they see members of your family or friends infrequently, it can take them longer to recognize these individuals.” Around 6 months, your baby will also start to recognize and respond to their own name.
At what age can babies recognize familiar voices?When do memories start? Even in their first two months, your baby can recognize familiar faces and voices, especially those they see every day. Newborns can recognize their mothers' voice at birth, and breastfed babies can recognize their mother's smell.
What age do infants begin to use social smiles when they see another human face?Sometimes a smile in the early weeks of life is simply a sign that your little bundle is passing gas. But starting between 6 and 8 weeks of life, babies develop a "social smile" -- an intentional gesture of warmth meant just for you.
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