Signs of a Genius Baby

It is common for new parents to feel that their baby is gifted, but a genius child is a rare occurrence. If your baby is one of those rare individuals with extraordinary intelligence, she will probably begin to show signs early in infancy. Remember, though, that all children are different and develop skills and talents in their own time.

Is your baby a genius? (Image: mbot/iStock/Getty Images)

Meets Milestones Early

A baby who does everything early might be gifted. Look for your baby to meet most developmental milestones well ahead of her peers. This includes both large muscle skills such as crawling and walking and small muscle skills such as smiling and grasping. Also, look for a gifted child to speak earlier and more complexly than his peers.

A High Interest in Language

Gifted children pay attention to speech earlier, and usually speak earlier. Gifted babies often show an early interest in books and are able to sit still and pay attention to stories by the age of 6 months. By the age of 14 months, many gifted children are speaking in two-word sentences and many can understand spoken directions by 18 months.

Has a Good Memory

Gifted children often amaze their parents at an early age with what they remember and the connections they make. For example, a gifted child might have an uncanny ability to remember where she left a favorite stuffed animal or might be able to remember that his juice came out of the refrigerator and ask for juice in another situation where he sees a refrigerator, even if it looks different from the one he has at home.

Good Problem Solving

A gifted toddler can often solve problems that seem beyond her age. You might be surprised to find her on the other side of a baby gate, for example, after she pushed books over and used them as as steps to make her escape.

Focus

Gifted children often find something that interests them and are able to focus on that interest for long periods. Whether it is listening to a story or mastering a skill, you might find that a gifted child can have amazing focus and determination as he learns new skills.

Alertness

In very young infants, one of the first signs of being gifted is being highly alert and aware of his environment. A gifted baby might make early eye contact with people and quickly connect voices to the people in her family. Gifted babies can sometimes be seen as difficult because they might sleep less and be more sensitive to light or textures or other environmental stimuli.