When can infants usually recognize familiar caregivers and become shy with strangers?

Infants typically develop the capacity to recognize familiar caregivers and exhibit shyness or wariness towards strangers around the age of six months. This developmental milestone is part of the attachment process, where infants begin to form emotional bonds with their primary caregivers. At this age, they start to differentiate between familiar faces and those they do not recognize, leading to behaviors such as clinging to their caregivers or showing signs of distress when approached by unfamiliar individuals.

While some earlier signs of social recognition can appear as early as six weeks, the more distinct recognition and the behavioral responses associated with shyness usually become evident around the six-month mark. By this time, infants are refining their social interactions, and their emotional responses are increasingly guided by their experiences and familiarity with those around them.

In contrast, the other ages listed correspond to different developmental stages where recognition and response to social cues evolve further, but specific shyness towards strangers is most notably observed starting at around six months.