Is Your Baby Gifted? Here’s What To Look For

How do you know if your baby is gifted? Parents, teachers, and society in general believe a child is intellectually gifted when a standardized assessment says they are. But those standard assessments often come when children are close to school age. Are we missing an opportunity to provide additional stimulation to gifted children earlier?

We know the critical window for child development is before age 5.^1,5,6 It might help to identify giftedness earlier so gifted children get adequate stimulation to meet their needs. Many parents wonder at some point if their baby or toddler is gifted. This question can be challenging to answer because every child develops at a different rate with varying skills and abilities. However, there are certain signs you can look out for, which we’ll explore here.

Is Your Baby Gifted?

Several researchers have studied gifted babies and toddlers and found some predictive characteristics of gifted children.² It’s important to note that just because a child demonstrates common gifted features doesn’t mean they will be identified as gifted. On the other hand, children can be identified as gifted even if they don’t have all characteristics.

The following are common signs of gifted babies and toddlers:^2,7,8,9,10

• A heightened level of alertness
• Need for constant stimulation while awake and alert
• Less need for sleep than typically recommended
• Greater speech ability; able to mimic sounds earlier than typical
• Greater sensitivity to sounds, smells, textures, and tastes
• Strong reaction to unpleasant sensations; often hypersensitive
• Excess energy and in constant motion
• May start talking late but speak in complete sentences when they do start
• Reach physical milestones (such as crawling) earlier than average

Gifted children may not have all these traits, but they will likely have more than two.¹¹

Gifted Babies Need Greater Stimulation

Gifted babies and toddlers typically also need greater stimulation. When you don’t provide them continuously with something interesting and novel to see, listen to, or touch, they may become bored and fussy. Some studies have found that gifted babies and toddlers typically become bored with familiar things faster. They’re always craving new and different stimulation.³

For instance, if a song that used to comfort your baby no longer calms them, and you have to play a new and unfamiliar song to make them happy, this is a sign that they crave novelty. You may also see this if your child quickly becomes disinterested in new toys, meaning they want new and interesting stimulation.

I Think My Baby Is Gifted. Now What?

So, what should you do if you suspect your child is gifted? You don’t need to change anything. You should continue to provide your child with the same enriching environment of experiences to challenge all their senses. Continue talking to your gifted child, asking questions, reading to them, singing to them, and encouraging them to talk back to you. There’s no need to do anything differently because all children must get a wide variety of experiences.

It might be helpful to know that these characteristics are signs of giftedness and intelligence so you can react without frustration. It may be challenging to keep finding new and interesting stimulation for your gifted child. But knowing they’re craving interesting enrichment versus just being irritable can help you understand how to support them.

Also, it’s important to remember that how we interact with our children can build their intelligence. Some studies show that the type of questions we ask children can challenge them and make them smarter.⁴ So, think about how you interact with your child. How can you make it more interesting to add to their vocabulary and critical thinking? All children need positive and interesting interactions with mom and dad. It helps to build their vocabulary, academic skills, and social skills.

Your Child Doesn’t Have To Be “Gifted” To Have a Gift

We all think our children are “gifted” at some point. But it’s important to remember that every child has their own gifts to share, even if they aren’t identified as intellectually gifted. Maybe they’re extraordinarily kind, good at basketball, or a great singer, dancer, or piano player. Perhaps they’re amazing with animals or especially great at telling stories. Help your child find their particular gift or passion, and encourage them to cultivate it so they can flourish.