Here's a breakdown of when and how they develop hearing:
* 24 weeks gestation: The inner ear is developed enough to respond to sound.
* 26 weeks gestation: The baby can recognize the sound of their mother's voice, and even their heartbeat.
* 3rd trimester: The baby's hearing continues to develop, and they can even distinguish different sounds and languages.
After birth:
* Newborns: Babies are immediately responsive to sound, and they can recognize their mother's voice from other voices.
* First few months: Babies' hearing continues to improve, and they begin to recognize familiar sounds and learn to localize sounds.
So, while a baby's hearing isn't fully developed at birth, they can hear sounds and begin to learn about their environment long before they are born!