Based on the provided reference, babies start thinking from the time they are born.
While the way babies think differs significantly from adults due to ongoing brain development, the process of thinking is present from birth.
Early Brain Development and Thinking
The initial stages of human life involve rapid brain growth and the formation of crucial neural connections that underpin cognitive abilities, including thinking.
According to the reference:
- Babies do not think like adults.
- Their brains are continuously developing, particularly up to the age of six.
- A significant portion of brain development occurs very early:
- 90% of neural connections are made before the age of three.
- The remaining 10% develop between the ages of three and six.
This intense period of development shapes how thinking evolves, but thinking itself is a process that begins immediately after birth.
Understanding Baby Thinking
Although a newborn's thought processes are not comparable to the complex reasoning of an older child or adult, they are actively engaging with the world around them through senses and basic cognitive functions. This early engagement constitutes their initial form of thinking.
Think of it this way:
- A baby reacts to sounds.
- A baby recognizes familiar voices or faces over time.
- A baby learns cause and effect (e.g., crying brings comfort).
These actions and learned responses demonstrate basic cognitive function and the rudimentary beginnings of thought processes.
In summary, while sophisticated adult-like thinking develops over years as the brain matures, the foundational capacity for thinking is present from birth.
