When do babies recognize themselves in mirror

The simple act of estimating the distance to an object in the environment and reaching for it is a self-awareness milestone. This is when babies first pass the basic mirror test. This may also be why 18 months is when most children begin to develop language skills. The next few years are developmentally awkward, as perhaps best captured by Jennifer, the 3-year-old who wondered why her image was wearing her clothes.

That can be hard to grasp and a bit terrifying to imagine. Four-year-olds often respond to this realization by becoming mirror-shy, hiding their faces whenever they see their reflections.

Adults also hover at Level 5. Indeed, when the legendary anthropologist Edmund Carpenter presented a mirror to Papua New Guinea tribesmen in , they jumped straight to Level 5 — but with all the disappointment that one would expect from a newcomer to mirror-based meta self-awareness.

Sign up for the Fatherly newsletter to get original articles and expert advice about parenting, fitness, gear, and more in your inbox every day. Please try again. Give us a little more information and we'll give you a lot more relevant content. Older babies, between 13 and 24 months, approached the mirror with hesitation, and weren't sure what to think of their reflection. By the age of 20 to 24 months, the children seem to clearly recognize the reflection in the mirror as their own.

But according to child development researcher Dr. Amy Webb, just because toddlers recognize themselves in the mirror , it doesn't mean that they necessarily have a mental concept of themselves. Recognizing themselves in the mirror is the beginning of self-awareness in a child. Though it might surprise you to hear that it takes babies so long to recognize themselves in the mirror, the truth is recognizing ones self involves a very complex set of cognitive skills.

The beginning stages of self-awareness go hand-in-hand with the concept of consciousness. Video courtesy of our partners at Make Way For Books. Check out their free app. It helps develop their visual senses, most obviously. You can also use a mirror during tummy time to keep your baby entertained and give them more time to develop their muscles and physical abilities.

And playing with a mirror can help them develop language skills. Even before they can use words, you can point out parts of their face and have little back-and-forth conversations.

Any opportunity for Smart Talk is great for your little one. Eventually, your baby will learn that they are seeing their own face in the mirror and start to recognize their reflection. All kids develop differently, but here are some of the stages:.

Self-awareness is a complex, even philosophical concept. Just get down on the floor with your baby and a mirror, make some funny faces, and play together. Reach him at dan firstthingsfirst.