Age and sex differences in the cortisol stress reactivity and recovery among infants exposed to prenatal psychological distress

•Cortisol stress recovery differed by sex and age in prenatal distress exposed infants.•We observed faster cortisol recovery in females at the age of 14 months.•We have previously observed slower female cortisol recovery at 10 weeks of age.•Recovery could be more sensitive to the prenatal distress exposure than reactivity.•In addition to stress reactivity, cortisol recovery has predicted psychiatric disorders.