Babies may start deceiving before their first birthday, research suggests

Babies as young as ten months old can deliberately mislead others to get what they want, according to new research from the University of Bristol, as reported by Swedish broadcaster SVT Nyheter.

Clara Linnros, a child psychologist, told SVT’s Morgonstudion that the behaviour reflects an early cognitive milestone rather than mere mischief. “This is the first step in beginning to think: What is happening in the other person’s mind, and what do I know that they don’t?” she explained.

The study challenges the assumption that deception is a learned behaviour appearing later in childhood. Linnros added that while it may seem surprising, the ability could have evolutionary advantages, helping infants navigate social interactions from an early age.

Parents may recognise the tactic—such as a baby distracting with a toy to avoid an unwanted activity—as a sign of developing strategic thinking rather than simple defiance.