Do you remember your first birthday? Or your very first word?
Probably not — and this isn’t a coincidence. The inability to recall early years of life is known as childhood amnesia, a natural phenomenon that has intrigued scientists for decades.
What happens in a baby’s brain
In the first years of life, a baby’s brain undergoes intense development. Neural connections are formed at a breathtaking rate — around one million per second in the early months. However, the areas responsible for long-term memory, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, are still immature.
This means that although babies can learn and recognize faces or voices, they cannot maintain autobiographical memories in the long run.
When do we start forming memories?
Research indicates that the first conscious memories typically emerge between ages 3 and 4. Before that, many impressions fade or become inaccessible because the brain undergoes a process called synaptic pruning — a natural “clean‐up” of neural connections to optimize brain function.
This process is essential for development, but it also erases earlier records, which helps explain why we can’t remember events from infancy.
Emotions and language also influence memory
Beyond brain development, emotional and linguistic factors play an important role in memory formation. Young children do not yet have sufficient vocabulary to narrate their experiences. Without language, it is difficult to build a structure for conscious memory — after all, remembering is partly about telling yourself what happened.
Likewise, intense emotions—such as fear or joy—can leave a stronger imprint on the brain, leaving traces that, even if not clear memories, influence personality and future behavior.
What science reveals about childhood amnesia
Recent studies show that the infant brain does not entirely purge memories — it simply reorganizes them. Neuro-imaging research suggests that even without conscious recall, infants retain implicit learning, such as sounds, faces, and even behavior patterns.
In other words, what we experience in early years shapes who we become, even if we don’t hold visual or narrative recollections of those moments.
How parents can nurture their child’s memory
Even knowing that childhood amnesia is natural, parents can stimulate memory and positive emotions from early on. A few simple practices make a difference:
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Talk to your baby and describe what is happening;
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Show photos and tell stories about the family;
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Create routines with familiar songs and objects;
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Encourage social contact and daily affection.
These experiences strengthen neural connections and help the child build the foundations of emotional and cognitive memory.
Childhood amnesia is not a “memory blackout,” but rather a natural process of brain maturation. Even without conscious memories, the early years of life profoundly influence how we feel, react, and learn. That is why every act of love, every song, every hug matters. The memories may not be remembered, but they are felt — and stay where love begins: in the heart.
