Why We Can’t Remember Our Earliest Years

www.psychologytoday.com ^ | April 11, 2022 | Vanessa LoBue Ph.D.

[kawhill]

Infants form memories, but may not be able to recall them later.

[bunkerhill7]

How many infants did they ask?

[algore]

I remember now
I remember how it started
I can’t remember yesterday
I just remember doing what they told me
Told me
Told me
Told me...

[combat_boots]

I do. Trauma.

Led to my reading before age 2, though. I still remember the first sentence. Reading to my mother, in her bed, on white sheets.

[The Duke]

I’m an exception to this rule.

[roving]

My earliest memory is from age two.

[Inyo-Mono]

In addition to remembering my brother’s birth when, like the author, I was 2 1/2, I also recall being pushed in a stroller across a small parking lot full of pebbles at a restaurant when I about a year old. My Mother confirmed it for me when I related my memory to her years later.

[Bullish]

Good point. How much did we pay for this ‘study’?

[Oscar in Batangas]

I wonder if the proliferation of VHS cameras and (now-a-days’) cel phone videos will help the next batch of kids remember events from even earlier in their lives.

[Bullish]

Two is about right for me too.

[goodnesswins]

I remember being stung by a bee...my father was carrying me up some stairs to someones house. Not sure how old I was but maybe 2+ and I was oldest of three...one of whom likely not born yet. I do remember my brother coming home from the hospital. Was very likely on my 3rd birthday.

[j.havenfarm]

3 years, one week

[Political Junkie Too]

Who wants to remember pooping in their pants all day long?

-PJ

[Leaning Right]

As an infant in child care, I encountered Baby Hillary Rodham. I vividly remember that. And I wish I didn’t.

[Lazamataz]

I remember swimming, and looking back, and seeing about a million other sperms.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Because it was boring.

We remember events. Things that are different.

Before age two you poop, you sleep, you get fed mostly liquids. Not really a lot to stick in your head.

Now if you witness a traumatic event before age two you probably will remember it although probably not in context because you are very small.

[MikelTackNailer]

Was she saying it was her turn?

[DJ MacWoW]

I don’t know how old I was but I remember being in a crib and using the side rail to pull myself up to stand. My parents were asleep, they’d go out dancing on Friday and Saturday nights (1950’s). I knew if I cried they’d get mad so I said “Hoo-Hoo! Hoo-Hoo! They laughed and took me downstairs to Grandma and Grandpa. Babies are smarter than most people think.

[montag813]

Because there’s no context

[Zuriel]

My earliest was at 3 1/2. I was sitting between my older brother and sister, ages 7 and 6 respectively, in the back seat of a Stinson Station Wagon airplane in Dec 1957. Could only see the aircraft interior and the sky out of the windows.