What Do Babies Learn and Understand?

During infancy, most babies learn about the idea of cause and effect. They discover that when something happens in the world, it can cause something else to happen. Even more excitingly, babies discover that they can act and cause effects in their environment.

For example, babies may learn:

• if they cry, someone will come and pick them up

• If they hit or kick a mobile, it will move

• if they push an object off a table, it will fall

• if they hit two things together, they will make a noise

• if they smush a piece of paper, it will crumple

Babies spend a lot of time observing how people and objects behave, and experimenting with objects around them. When a baby is ill or in the hospital, adults may need to help the baby to experience and explore cause-and-effect.

Most babies gradually learn that objects continue to exist even if they can no longer see them. This understanding is called "object permanence."

This means:

• if they cover up a toy, it is still there

• if a grownup leaves a room, they still exist in the world

• if a person hides their face, their face will come back out (like in a game of peek-a-boo)

Babies often experiment with covering and then revealing objects, covering their own eyes, and looking away and then back at a person. As babies learn object permanence, they are more likely to try to get the attention of a person who has left a room, or to follow the person if they are able.

Sick or hospitalized babies often have fewer opportunities to explore. Adults can help by playing games like peek-a-boo and hide and seek.

Over the course of the first year, most babies learn that objects have a purpose. They can learn the purpose of familiar objects that they use regularly.

This can mean:

• they start to do basic pretend play, like putting a toy telephone to their ear

• they anticipate what will happen if they see a grownup getting out a bowl and spoon, a stroller, or a bath towel

• they may place their shoes near their feet or get their hat when it is time to leave the house

When a baby with a heart defect is in the hospital, adults can help them by showing and talking about what they are doing, and helping the baby to play simple pretend games.

For a brand-new baby, everything is new. As they move through their first year, however, more and more things become familiar.

Babies learn to expect and accept the aspects of their world that rarely change: the sounds, sights, tastes, smells, feelings, people, and activities that fill their daily existence.

As they get used to sensations and experiences, they don't pay as much attention to them and can often tune them out. They may get bored with the same toys, for example, or not startle to the sound of consistent traffic outdoors.

As they learn what is typical or expected, babies become more aware of anything that is new or unusual. They pay much more attention to new or unexpected things than familiar things.

Sometimes new things are exciting to babies, and other times new things are stressful or scary.

Adults can help all babies learn about what is expected and unexpected. When a baby is in the hospital, many aspects of their lives are unusual. Adults can help by keeping their environment as predictable as possible, and introducing new toys and experiences mindfully.

Your baby learns from you, of course, but you can also learn from your baby. As you watch your baby explore and discover the world, you can gain insight into how the human brain works. If your baby is not feeling well or has restrictions, you can observe how they respond to experiences and interactions, and follow their lead to help them to learn. You can also gain a renewed appreciation of the wonders around you, as your baby encounters them for the first time.

This content was reviewed by a psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital.

Developmental care is best when it is local. Families local to Boston can receive care from the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program (CNP). Families from other regions can use the link below to find their local care team.