You must have been a beautiful baby: Ratings of infant facial attractiveness fail to predict ratings of adult attractiveness

Facial attractiveness has been studied extensively, but little research has examined the stability of facial attractiveness of individuals across different stages of development. We conducted a study examining the relationship between facial attractiveness in infants (age 24 months and under) and the same individuals as young adults (age 16–18 years) using infant and adult photographs from high school yearbooks. Contrary to expectations, independent raters’ assessments of infant facial attractiveness did not correlate with adult facial attractiveness. These results are discussed in terms of the adaptive function of heightened attractiveness in infancy, which likely evolved to elicit and maintain parental care.

► Attractiveness ratings of a target person in infancy do not predict ratings of the target as an adult. ► Smiling had no effect on ratings. ► Our two studies yielded the same findings. ► We argue that heightened attractiveness in infancy serves to ensure parental care.