At what age do infants start recognizing familiar faces and voices?

At around 3 months of age, infants begin to show an increased ability to recognize familiar faces and voices. This developmental milestone is part of their social and cognitive growth and is influenced by their interactions with caregivers and their environment. During this period, babies not only start to visually track faces but also show preferences for familiar individuals, evidenced by their reactions such as smiling or cooing when they see or hear someone they recognize.

This recognition is a critical aspect of bonding and attachment, as it establishes the foundation for emotional development and social interactions as infants grow. By around 6 months, this recognition becomes even more pronounced and robust, but the ability to recognize familiar faces and voices significantly begins to develop during the social engagement at the 3-month mark. Thus, the understanding of this developmental stage emphasizes the importance of early interactions for nurturing infant cognitive and social development.