baby bargaining

Baby bargaining is a strategic behavior where infants, often around 8 to 9 months old, attempt to influence caregivers' actions to meet their own needs. When they want something, like food or attention, they may express discomfort or frustration, hoping the caregiver will respond in a way that satisfies their desires. This process demonstrates emerging social awareness and learning about cause-and-effect in interactions. It's a normal developmental phase that reflects a baby experimenting with communication, patience, and the understanding that their actions can lead to specific responses from caregivers.