You likely love saying your baby’s name, and they enjoy hearing it just as much! From the very start, infants are attentively listening to your words, soaking up language like a sponge. Their receptive language skills—essentially their ability to understand sounds and words—begin developing at birth. However, it takes some time for their brains to distinguish individual words from the continuous flow of sounds around them.
Eventually, there will come a day when you call your little one’s name, and they will turn their head and look at you, showing that they recognize their name as a meaningful word. It’s an exciting milestone—one word down, countless more to go!
When Do Babies Start to Recognize Their Name?
Most infants begin to understand and respond to their names around 5 to 6 months of age, with the majority doing so by 9 months. The development of receptive language (understanding that words hold meaning) occurs on a different timeline than expressive language (the ability to say words meaningfully). Your baby will likely grasp what you are saying long before they can articulate any recognizable words back to you.
While each child develops at their own pace, if you’re looking for ways to encourage your baby to learn their name, consider using it frequently during your interactions. Engaging with them while pointing to their picture or using their name in playful contexts can help reinforce this learning. For more parenting tips, check out our blog post on postpartum exercise tips and workouts for new moms.
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Summary
In short, babies typically start recognizing and responding to their names between 5 to 6 months of age, with most responding by 9 months. Engaging with your baby using their name frequently can boost their understanding. For more information on family planning and at-home insemination, visit the links shared above.