Babyhood

/ˈbeɪbihʊd/ noun

Definition

The period of life when a person is a baby; early infancy and the years of complete dependence on caregivers.

Etymology

From baby plus the suffix -hood (meaning state or condition), similar to childhood, adulthood, motherhood. Used to describe the distinct developmental stage.

Kelly Says

Babyhood is another pretty modern concept—it only became a distinct life stage that people studied scientifically in the 20th century, before that babies were just... babies, not a whole developmental period with rules!

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