Yesterday, I posted a blog about some research being done on the infant amnesia phenomenon. That is to say that babies remember (according to research) and then they forget. I have mentioned before that I’m not thoroughly convinced that baby research is all that valid. I’m not positive you can truly isolate variables enough to come up with a valid conclusion. However, researchers that are experts in baby behavior insist that after watching tens of thousands of babies, there are consistencies in infant behavior. As for me, I’ve only intimately watched five babies. I’m obviously not an expert but this is what I’ve noticed regarding memory in babies under the age of two.
Things They Remember
It stands to reason that I am by now, very good friends with our pediatrician. I have five kids and she’s seen all of them through bouts with strep throat, croup, along with their well baby check ups. In case you didn’t know, my kids are all about two years apart and that detail is significant to this story.
My pediatrician is one smart lady and she never gives my kids their shots. She makes the nurses do it. With each kid it has taken all of two rounds of shots before they hate the nurse. Every single one of my kids grew up hating people wearing blue scrubs and as you might have guessed that’s what the nurse at the doctor’s office wears. Not only do they hate people in blue scrubs at that office, they hate blue scrub wearing people in the hospital too.
We were in the ER getting the first of what I’m sure will be many sets of stitches for my son and my twins simply freaked out at the sight of someone who looked sort of like my pediatrician’s nurse. . .wearing the tell tale blue scrubs. I think it’s because they associate those blue scrubs with getting their shots. I have many more stories of my kids associating those blue scrubs with shots but to put it plainly, I think my kids remember the experience of getting their shots from as early as twelve weeks old.
In the Womb?
I actually think that perhaps babies form memories in the womb. I have yet to give birth to a child who didn’t know my voice. Not only that but they know dad’s and siblings voices too. They’ve heard it before and they know that these people belong to them.
The Infant Amnesia Phenomenon
I don’t think this is very puzzling but maybe that’s because I don’t have a degree in science. I think babies forget easily for two reasons. First, they have a lot to accomplish in just a short period of time. This takes a lot of brain energy and well, some things simply are forgotten to “make room” for more pressing matters.
Secondly, I think babies are incapable of putting “tags” on things in the same way adults do which is why they forget easily. Think about something you remember clearly, perhaps directions to go somewhere. If someone simply tells you the directions you are not as likely to remember them as you would be if you actually drove there. Each way in which you receive the directions is a tag. So if you hear the directions, write them down as you hear them and then drive there you would have three “tags” on how to get to that particular place.
Babies on the other hand, can’t see or hear acutely when they are very young. They only have so many tags to work with. So perhaps they recognize mom’s voice easily, but it will take awhile before they associate (or put ‘tags’ on) mom’s voice and face. It actually doesn’t take very long for babies to know mom in this way but it takes longer for babies to remember siblings and other close relatives in this way.
Whether I’m close or way off track, the important thing to know is that, babies are constantly learning and are aware of their surroundings! What about you? What was your earliest memory?
Related Articles:
The Inner Workings of Your Baby’s Mind
Baby’s 5 Senses and How They Develop