When does a baby begin to make thoughtful judgments?

Babies begin to make thoughtful judgments around 6 to 12 months of age as they develop cognitive skills and social awareness. At this stage, they start to understand cause and effect, recognize familiar faces, and respond to social cues. By around 12 months, they can exhibit preferences and make choices based on their experiences, indicating the emergence of more complex judgment abilities. As their cognitive and emotional development continues, these judgments become increasingly nuanced over the following years.