{"formatVersion":"1.1","id":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/infancy-conclusion","path":"/library/infancy-conclusion","url":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/infancy-conclusion","title":"Infancy","family":"Library detail","description":"Discover the stages of infancy and the impact of nurturing on child development. Good parenting is vital for healthy growth.","language":"en-US","access":{"audience":"public","indexable":true},"provenance":{"sourceUrl":"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/infancy-conclusion","wordpressId":"5030","contentCompleteness":"complete","dateScope":"original-source"},"authors":[],"dates":{"datePublished":"2024-05-31T23:31:39Z","dateModified":"2026-07-17T06:08:02Z"},"content":{"html":"<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\"><ol><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/\">Home</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library\">Library</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/lifespan-development\">Lifespan Development</a></li><li><span aria-current=\"page\">Infancy</span></li></ol></nav><div class=\"article-page article-standard\" data-library-standard=\"\"><div class=\"article-main-grid\"><header class=\"article-heading\"><h1>Infancy</h1><div class=\"article-dates\"><span>Published on <time datetime=\"2024-05-31T23:31:39Z\">May 31, 2024</time></span><span aria-hidden=\"true\"> · </span><span>Updated on <time datetime=\"2026-07-17T06:08:02Z\">July 17, 2026</time></span></div></header><div class=\"article-jumpbar\"></div><div class=\"article-layout\"><div class=\"article-reading\"><article class=\"prose\" id=\"article-content\"><h2 id=\"development-during-the-first-two-years\">Development during the first two years</h2><p>Infancy is a time of intense development. Babies start out with little more than instinctual reflexes and an innate ability to learn. </p><p>Over the course of two years, they progress to the point where they have recognizable personalities; are able to move themselves from place to place and manipulate things; and understand how certain important aspects of the world operate (such as object permanence; the understanding that objects continue to exist even when you are not looking at them). </p><p>They understand the rudiments of how to make their wishes known, have formed attachments and relationships, and have learned basic ways of managing their emotions and impulses. </p>\n<p>While these achievements are tremendous and set the stage for later learning, they are also commonplace. So long as children are born without significant illness, and so long as they are properly nurtured and cared for, their development towards these achievements will likely progress uneventfully.</p><figure class=\"article-feature\"><img alt=\"An infant holds an adult’s finger.\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"600\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/0453b39d7436dde63c8f3dd0.webp\" width=\"1200\"></figure><section aria-labelledby=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"article-takeaways\"><h2 id=\"key-takeaways\">Key takeaways</h2><ul><li>Infancy involves rapid growth in movement, communication, thinking, and emotional attachment.</li><li>Development reflects both innate capacities and interaction with the physical and social environment.</li><li>Consistent nurturing and language-rich interaction provide a foundation for later learning and relationships.</li></ul></section><h2 data-editorial-heading=\"\" id=\"why-nurturing-relationships-matter\">Why nurturing relationships matter</h2><p>The key phrase is, of course, \"properly nurtured.\" As <a class=\"article-inline-link\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/urie-bronfenbrenner-and-child-development\">Bronfenbrenner</a> stressed, child development is influenced by the environment at every level. Children progress toward milestones through interaction with their physical environments, with loving parents, and with the larger world. </p><p>Problematic or lack of nurturing has a negative impact on their ability to progress smoothly. Children who are not exposed to language and communication stimulation, either because of hearing problems or caregivers' neglect to speak with and around them, can have difficulty learning more complex language skills in later years. </p>\n<p>Similarly, children who are deprived of consistent nurturing care can grow to learn to mistrust others and have problems bonding with caregivers or other people in later years. </p><p>Good parenting skills can help smooth out some of the inevitable bumps and bruises that might threaten to derail more sensitive or temperamental children. Though all parents will make mistakes in the 22 years it takes to raise a child; love, attention, and care provide strong bedrock for healthy <a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/developmental-theories\" class=\"article-inline-link\" data-context-link=\"355\">child development</a>.</p><section aria-label=\"Subject matter expert\" class=\"article-expert article-expert-inline\" data-expert-kind=\"related\" data-expert-layout=\"standard\"><p class=\"article-bio-role\">Subject matter expert</p><div class=\"article-expert-identity\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/optimized/af4ecdb78008ac81cd3aa271.jpg\" width=\"64\" decoding=\"async\"><h2><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/holly-schiff\">Holly Schiff <span class=\"expert-credentials\">Psy.D.</span></a></h2></div><p class=\"article-expert-focus\">Children, adolescents, and families</p><a class=\"profile-experience-link experience-button\" href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/people/holly-schiff\">View experience</a></section><h2 data-editorial-heading=\"\" id=\"the-next-stage-of-development\">The next stage of development</h2><p>Development doesn't stop here, of course. When it is ready, the next document in this series will discuss how children progresses into the next stage of development, the preoperational stage, which lasts from ages 2 through 7.</p></article><div class=\"article-endmatter\"><section class=\"article-about article-panel\"><h2 id=\"about-mentalhealth-com\">About MentalHealth.com</h2><p>MentalHealth.com helps people understand themselves, build healthier relationships, and access the right care. We bring together mental health education, diagnostics, and care management to support well-being throughout every phase of life.</p><div class=\"article-contributors\"></div></section><section aria-label=\"Related community\" class=\"article-topic-community article-topic-community-end\"><img alt=\"\" class=\"topic-community-banner\" height=\"557\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/assets/responsive/9f21361444628d9bdecbd723.webp\" width=\"800\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"/assets/responsive/9f21361444628d9bdecbd723.webp 800w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 961px) 236px, calc(100vw - 80px)\"><p class=\"topic-community-label\">Related community</p><h2>Lifespan Development</h2><p>Explore growth, transitions, and mental health through the different stages of life.</p><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/community/lifespan-development\">Explore community</a></section></div></div><aside aria-label=\"Article navigation and related information\" class=\"article-sidebar\" data-bounded-rail=\"\" tabindex=\"0\"><details class=\"article-contents\" data-expanded=\"false\" data-scrolled-past=\"false\" data-section-preview=\"3\" open=\"\"><summary><strong>Table of contents</strong><span aria-hidden=\"true\"></span><small data-current-section=\"\">Choose a section</small></summary><nav aria-label=\"Article contents\"><ol id=\"article-section-list\"><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/infancy-conclusion#development-during-the-first-two-years\" aria-label=\"Development during the first two years\" title=\"Development during the first two years\">Development during the first two years</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/infancy-conclusion#why-nurturing-relationships-matter\" aria-label=\"Why nurturing relationships matter\" title=\"Why nurturing relationships matter\">Why nurturing relationships matter</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/infancy-conclusion#the-next-stage-of-development\" aria-label=\"The next stage of development\" title=\"The next stage of development\">The next stage of development</a></li></ol><button aria-controls=\"article-section-list\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"article-sections-toggle\" data-sections-toggle=\"\" hidden=\"\" type=\"button\">View more</button></nav></details></aside></div></div></div>","text":"Home Library Lifespan Development Infancy Infancy Published on May 31, 2024 · Updated on July 17, 2026 Development during the first two years Infancy is a time of intense development. Babies start out with little more than instinctual reflexes and an innate ability to learn. Over the course of two years, they progress to the point where they have recognizable personalities; are able to move themselves from place to place and manipulate things; and understand how certain important aspects of the world operate (such as object permanence; the understanding that objects continue to exist even when you are not looking at them). They understand the rudiments of how to make their wishes known, have formed attachments and relationships, and have learned basic ways of managing their emotions and impulses. While these achievements are tremendous and set the stage for later learning, they are also commonplace. So long as children are born without significant illness, and so long as they are properly nurtured and cared for, their development towards these achievements will likely progress uneventfully. Key takeaways Infancy involves rapid growth in movement, communication, thinking, and emotional attachment. Development reflects both innate capacities and interaction with the physical and social environment. Consistent nurturing and language-rich interaction provide a foundation for later learning and relationships. Why nurturing relationships matter The key phrase is, of course, \"properly nurtured.\" As Bronfenbrenner stressed, child development is influenced by the environment at every level. Children progress toward milestones through interaction with their physical environments, with loving parents, and with the larger world. Problematic or lack of nurturing has a negative impact on their ability to progress smoothly. Children who are not exposed to language and communication stimulation, either because of hearing problems or caregivers' neglect to speak with and around them, can have difficulty learning more complex language skills in later years. Similarly, children who are deprived of consistent nurturing care can grow to learn to mistrust others and have problems bonding with caregivers or other people in later years. Good parenting skills can help smooth out some of the inevitable bumps and bruises that might threaten to derail more sensitive or temperamental children. Though all parents will make mistakes in the 22 years it takes to raise a child; love, attention, and care provide strong bedrock for healthy child development. Subject matter expert Holly Schiff Psy.D. Children, adolescents, and families View experience The next stage of development Development doesn't stop here, of course. When it is ready, the next document in this series will discuss how children progresses into the next stage of development, the preoperational stage, which lasts from ages 2 through 7. About MentalHealth.com MentalHealth.com helps people understand themselves, build healthier relationships, and access the right care. We bring together mental health education, diagnostics, and care management to support well-being throughout every phase of life. Related community Lifespan Development Explore growth, transitions, and mental health through the different stages of life. 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