Every moment is truly precious. In fact, your little peanut’s memory is always actively developing. By the time you meet your newborn, their brain is already hard at work capturing information, and their ability to learn and remember only continues to grow. Here’s a little insight into their memory development.
Short-term Baby Memory Development
In your baby’s first months, they’re busy trying to figure out the world around them. They absorb language and reach many developmental milestones. Memory helps attract them to new things and sustain their curiosity throughout the first year of life.
At eight to 12 months old, your baby’s memory takes huge leaps forward. Now, they’re able to retain information for about 20 seconds. This is known as short-term memory, which identifies information that goes into long-term memory and discards the unnecessary bits.
Recognition and Long-term Baby Memory Development
Earliest recall memories don’t begin until well after your child’s first birthday, sometimes older. However, during the first year, your little one will recognize familiar people like you, family, and caregivers. Most importantly, your baby will begin to differentiate you from strangers, which leads to separation anxiety. When this happens, your baby is aware of when you’re not there and becomes upset by your absence. It’s good for their development, even if those tears are painful for you.
Love, attention, stimulation, and good nutrition are all important when it comes to baby’s brain. Here are a few other things you can do to help support their memory.
Support Your Baby’s Memory: 3 steps
- Talk to your baby. Wide exposure to language stimulates cognitive ability, including baby memory later in childhood.
- Toys and your baby. Providing a variety of playthings not only keeps your baby entertained, it also helps them understand the traits of objects.
- Brain-nourishing nutrition. Providing nutrients, like the omega-3 fatty acid DHA derived from breast milk or formula, has been shown to support cognitive skills during infancy and well into the preschool years.
These three little steps can help your baby’s memory flourish. Now, if only you could remember where you put your keys…
