Psychosocial development in infancy includes babies learning to interact with the world and people around them. Bonding is an essential component of healthy emotional and social development. Most healthy infants are ready to bond immediately after birth. Pediatric health experts recommend that parents feed and hold a newborn to initiate bonding right away. Parents should not be concerned if immediate bonding is not possible (e.g., premature birth or adopted infants).

Parents typically bond with their infant by touching gently and speaking to the baby frequently and in numerous other ways including during feeding, bathing and other caregiving activities. Providing babies with an environment rich in stimulation, comfort and loving attention bolsters healthy infancy development. Studies also show that babies who are spoken to and read to and otherwise engaged in plenty of verbal interaction by parents or other caregivers show more advanced language skills than infants who are not.

Crying is a newborn’s initial means of communicating. Parents and caregivers quickly learn to differentiate between an infant’s cries of hunger, pain and discomfort. Gradually, babies learn to communicate in other ways. For instance, a newborn’s face will brighten when they are cuddled or hear a soothing voice. Even when they are a few days old, a newborn may try to imitate a person sticking out his or her tongue.

Newborns usually smile when they are sleeping. However, at this time it is an involuntary reaction rather than an emotional response. By 2 or 3 months of age, a baby’s smile is a genuine expression of affection or pleasure. Soon, the baby will start reaching for a parent or other primary caregiver for attention or comfort.

By 3 months of age, healthy infants typically enjoy playing with others, especially their parents or caregivers. They may also cry when playing stops. Playing is an important way of stimulating a baby’s cognitive development and also how they learn to interact with others. At this stage, babies are more communicative and expressive with their faces and bodies. They typically try to imitate some movements and facial expressions.

By 7 months of age, many babies become shy or anxious with strangers. They may not want to stay with anyone other than their parents or primary caregivers and may even turn away from grandparents or other family members.

By 9 months of age, most infants are afraid of being left alone. They also usually experience separation anxiety and often show this by being clingy with parents and crying when parents leave. However, some older infants – especially those who can walk – may make brief exploratory journeys away from parents in familiar settings.

By the end of the first year, many babies develop an attachment to a favorite toy or object, such as a blanket. They also typically show specific preference for certain people, such as a familiar babysitter.

One-year-olds generally begin testing their parents with their behavior. This is a normal, healthy part of an infant’s emotional and social development. They are learning about how the parent will respond to behaviors, such as refusing to eat when being fed or crying when a parent leaves a room. It is important for parents to respond with patience because a loving, consistent and understanding attitude will help a baby develop confidence and a sense of security.