Stages of Childhood

According to the ancient Romans, an infant is "one who does not speak" (infans in Latin means speechless). Modern developmental psychologists still consider the ability to speak to be an important sign that the infancy has come to an end.

Infancy refers to the period of child development that begins at birth and ends at about eighteen months to two years of age. Despite the fact that it comprises a very short period of the individual life span, infancy is one of the most fascinating times of development.