While you might think of a baby responding to their name as a sign of their development, the truth is that babies don't truly understand their name until they're a bit older.
Early Recognition: Newborns and young infants can recognize their parents' voices and may even turn their heads towards familiar sounds, but they don't understand the meaning of their name. They might respond to sounds that are similar to their name, but it's not a conscious understanding.
Understanding and Responding: Around 6-8 months, babies start to associate their name with themselves. They'll recognize their name and may even turn their heads when they hear it. However, it's still not a fully developed understanding.
Active Response: By 12-18 months, most babies can understand and respond to their name. They'll look at you when you call them and might even come to you. This is when they truly understand the connection between their name and themselves.
Developing Language: As babies grow older, their understanding of language continues to develop. They learn to associate their name with other words and concepts. This allows them to respond to their name in more complex ways, such as answering questions or following instructions.
In short, babies don't truly respond to their name until they're around 12-18 months old. This is when they develop the understanding that their name represents them as an individual.
