User blog comment:PastaMeCreepy/Waking Up/@comment-27007772-20150920150839/@comment-10789912-20150930072442

Sentience doesn't kick in at birth, or in the toddler stage. We don't exactly know when it first kicks in, but it is most likely in full swing before age 5.

That is why this "waking up" you speak about is actually just you becoming fully aware of the world around you.