Do babies have memories before the age of three?
My child is two years and three months old. Recently, he was actually able to talk about things that happened several months ago, which surprised me greatly. I just wonder, can such a young child really remember these things? Is it true that children don't have memory before the age of three?
Doctor's answer (1)
In general, children have memory capabilities before the age of three.
Prior to age three, a child's memory ability initially manifests mainly as sensory memory and short-term memory. Sensory memory refers to the brief storage of information within the first few seconds after entering the brain. Although short-lived, it plays an important role in infants' perception of external stimuli and the formation of initial impressions. As the brain develops and neural connections strengthen, children begin to form more lasting short-term memories, which can last from several minutes to hours, helping them learn and adapt to new environments in daily life.
In addition, infants gradually develop long-term memory abilities. Although these abilities remain relatively limited and unstable before age three, they are sufficient for children to remember some important life events and emotional experiences. For example, they may remember caregivers they interact with frequently or have strong impressions of enjoyable outdoor activities.
Parents are advised to expose their children to diverse environments and experiences, such as taking them to parks to observe flowers, plants, and trees, or to zoos to learn about various animals. Rich visual, auditory, and other sensory experiences can promote brain development and enhance memory.
