At what age do babies start having "preferences?"

I have noticed my almost 5 month old now objects if I take something away from her. Before, if she was looking at something, and I switched it to something else, she'd just focus on the new thing. Yesterday she had the TV remote, and when I took it away she got angry (and threw the toy I gave her on the ground). Also, she was playing in her Jumperoo and I took her out b/c it was time to leave for daycare, and she got angry and started crying. She pouted all the way to school, and when we got there, I put her in the Jumperoo there and she was all happy again.

Do babies really have preferences at this age?

Mine sure the fuck does.

She flips shit if I take whatever she is playing with away.


she is 5months in a week

I think so... from a very early age, like- birth, my son hated being cradled. He also had a preference for certain rooms after just weeks of being home.

Quoting keylimepie:“ I have noticed my almost 5 month old now objects if I take something away from her. Before, if she was ... [snip!] ... we got there, I put her in the Jumperoo there and she was all happy again. Do babies really have preferences at this age?”

I've noticed that Kaden has been doing that. He has this stuffed reeses dog, that he loved for a while. If I show him his stuffed frog, and I take his dog he'll go to screaming. When he gets his dog back he'll be all smiles.

Yep.. my daughter will be 4 months in a week and she already has preferences. She does not like to be cradled like a little baby anymore.. she'd rather sit up and watch and look around. She also does not like to be held for any length of time, she'd rather lay on the floor or in her bouncy seat. She is also starting to prefer gnawing on her hands rather than her binky.

So....follow up question. If they can have preferences and objections, is this the age I need to watch out for "spoiling" her and making sure I am distinguishing right from wrong, and using the word "no" appropriately (like when she tries to poke out my eyes and laughs while she's doing it?   )

I know they always say you can't "spoil" a newborn, but what about a baby that is clearly no longer a newborn (she's almost 5 mos).