You probably love saying your baby’s name, and believe it or not, they are equally fascinated by hearing it! From the very beginning, babies are keen listeners, soaking up language and sounds around them like sponges. Their ability to understand words, known as receptive language skills, starts developing right after birth. However, it takes a bit of time for their brains to differentiate individual words amidst the constant flow of sounds.
Eventually, there will come a moment when you call your baby’s name, and they turn their head, looking at you with recognition. This is a sign that they’ve grasped the concept that their name is a meaningful word. Most babies typically begin to recognize and respond to their own names by the time they reach 5 to 6 months of age, with most doing so by around 9 months. It’s important to note that receptive language skills evolve on a different timeline compared to expressive language skills, which involve the ability to speak words with meaning. Your little one will likely comprehend what you say long before they can articulate it themselves.
To help your baby learn their name, make it a point to say it often in various contexts. You can find more tips on this topic in our other blog post here. If you have concerns about your child’s development or if they seem overly clingy, you might find useful insights at this link. Additionally, for those navigating the journey of pregnancy and home insemination, this resource is excellent for support and information.
In summary, babies start recognizing their names typically between 5 to 6 months old, with most responding by 9 months. Their understanding of words develops before their ability to speak them, so frequent exposure to their name can enhance their language skills.