How old is a child typically when they can begin to understand simple commands like "no"?

A child typically begins to understand simple commands, including "no," around the age of 9 months. At this stage of development, infants are becoming more aware of their surroundings and start to recognize familiar words and phrases from caregivers. This receptive language development is crucial as it indicates the child's growing cognitive abilities.

By 9 months, children are usually able to respond to their name and show an awareness of simple instructions, which marks an important milestone in language development and communication skills. They may not yet respond consistently or understand the implications of the commands, but they can often recognize and react to the tone and context in which these commands are given.

In contrast, before the age of 9 months, most infants are primarily focused on sensory exploration and developing motor skills, so their understanding of language is not yet at the level where they can comprehend commands. Therefore, the 9-month milestone aligns with developmental expectations regarding a child's early comprehension of language.