Who's That Baby Looking in the Mirror?

We had heard before that babies don't realize that reflection in the mirror is theirs until about eighteen months, but we just didn't believe it...surely she knows by now that's her- we thought at about 12 months. So, we tried this little test ourselves to find out...

This article in Babble explains how researchers dab a colored spot on a baby's face to see if they will try to wipe it off when they see their reflection; most don't until 18 months.

Well, we were sure when we dabbed cottage cheese on our baby's face she'd go to wipe it off- but she didn't do a thing. Just smiled at the mirror as usual.

Like the article says, self-awareness is one of our most sophisticated abilities as humans.

Try out this little experiment at home!

Comments (4)

My 3.5 yr old and my 7 yr old will look in the mirror and see dirt or toothpaste on their faces and not wipe it off! So what gives??

posted by lollipop on September 21st 2009 at 12:08pm
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that is a great article. the author also teaches at the pump station here in los angeles, she's amazing.

j
http://prudentadviceformybabydaughter.blogspot.com

posted by jaime5 on September 21st 2009 at 1:52pm
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I'm going to go try that with my almost twelve-month-old tonight! The other day she went up to a full-length mirror in a strange house and started kissing her reflection. I'm not sure if she's just very self-involved, or if she liked the pretty baby int the mirror a lot! I've read that elephants, when put in front of a mirror with a splotch of paint on their foreheads, will wash off the paint. Elephants are very smart.

posted by Pencils on September 21st 2009 at 3:47pm
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very very interesting and I agree with jaime5. This author is a genius!

posted by missusphillips on September 22nd 2009 at 5:59pm
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