Childhood amnesia - how much does your toddler remember?

What is your earliest memory? When asked, most adults can’t recall memories from toddlerhood (we might think we remember things, but this is often a memory of a family story – not the event itself). Does this mean your toddler truly won't remember their early experiences?  

What is childhood or infantile amnesia?  

You might have heard of the term childhood or infantile amnesia or are just aware that the earliest memory that you can confidently recall is from when you were around three or four years old.  

Research over many years has found that adults struggle to recall details of events early in their lives, however, recently researchers have started to explore memory with children.   

So, do children really not remember early experiences or do they simply forget them as they grow?  

In the research, children were able to recall memories from earlier in their lives than adults could, but the age of earliest memory was found to increase as the children got older. 

As your child’s memory develops, they will be able to remember and recall events but as they grow up some of their earlier memories will be forgotten.  

Don’t feel disheartened by this, though. Those early experiences, while seemingly forgotten, are still important in building a foundation for your child to grow and learn from for the rest of their life.  

Reference: 

Peterson, C, Warren, K. & Short, M. (2011) ‘Infantile amnesia across the years: A 20-year follow-up of children’s earliest memories’. Child development 82(4) 1092-1105.