Why Can't We Remember Being Babies?

Why can't we recall being born? It was kind of a big day, so you'd think we'd remember. Anthony looks at how the inner workings of a baby's brain differs from that of a full grown adult.

Read More:

When Do Babies Become Conscious?
"For everyone who's looked into an infant's sparkling eyes and wondered what goes on in its little fuzzy head, there's now an answer."

Babies Have Consciousness, Study Finds
"Infants have a conscious experience of the world at as early as 5 months of age, new research finds."

Why Don't We Remember Being Babies?
"Virtually nobody has memories from very early childhood — but it's not because we don't retain information as young children."

Can a person remember being born?
"Psychologists refer to this inability of most adults to remember events from early life, including their birth, as childhood amnesia."

Why Can't You Remember Being a Baby?
"There are probably blackout periods you can't remember at all from your childhood, and the memories you do have are likely hazy and garbled."

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[sandraakhigbe]

It's almost as if it was a different person that lived my childhood

[videogamelovera]

the very first memory was probably when I was 3. I went to my mom and told her that the word rocket began with an A because I thought A looked like a rocket. true story

[BettyAlexandriaPride]

When I first became aware, I was 3. It was summer, I woke up and for the first time, I was aware of it. It was the weirdest thing. I knew that I was in my room, I knew my mother was my mother and my sister's names. I knew daddy. But I knew that for some reason, that day was different than before and I never forgot it.

[MrExploder]

i cant remember anything from before i was 4... all i remember is waking up on a couch and going to see my dad.

[Lizicles]

My earliest memory is being in the hospital crib after my foot was amputated when I was 1, but my next memory is when I'm 4. I've heard intense emotions can cause memories to be more distinct-literally more memorable- so that could explain why i remember that so clearly, so young.

[izz]

I actually don't know what my earliest memory is, I just know that I basically don't remember anything from my childhood oops

[bobskie]

My grandmother on my father side passed away when I was 2½ years old and I don't remember her funeral but I remember when she was still alive.

[Jalapinecone]

My first memory is of me choking on a cheerio and knocking over a vase

[GarethFerguson]

My earliest memories are like dreams: just flashes of things im not sure ever happen

[legoman]

what i dont get is why cant you remember what you at for dinner lastnight but you can remember what you did in preschool

[Tmitric]

My oldest memory is in preschool, I was called into a office with my mum and I remember it and like I said, It is now my oldest memories.

[markyyyyyyyy]

My earliest memories were 2 years old at nursery with friends who I'm still in touch with today, and my Dad picking me up when I was also 2. My son is 5 and remembers crazily detailed memories of our old house when he was 1 years old, some of the things he talks about is impressive!

[sciocore]

Babies brains certainly do not function like anyone else's.  I remember my earliest memory.  I couldn't even walk yet.  I literally remember trying to move from one point to another by rocking on my stomach.  I also remember trying to hold a botle with one hand and unable to figure out why I couldn't do it.  I remember being in a walker.  I remember playpens and cribs.  And I remember what I was thinking when I was in daycare (about 3 years old) as well as specific events.

I remember a previous life as well but that seems to be a different topic altogether.  I don't actually remember being born though.  I must have been asleep.

[no-ntwo]

My first memory was when I was one. My mom moved me from my crib to a new one or something in another bedroom and I was so sad but I couldn’t tell her since I couldn’t speak yet. Only gibberish.

[b.michaelbrown]

I always ponder this question. Similarly we never remember the beginning of a dream either. It's equally challenging to imagine my own death without just seeing "darkness" or black. It's very difficult to separate consciousness from existence. Almost as if we've always been. Maybe I'm just rambling with philosophical ideas. But it is interesting none the less.

[DarkDemonVideos]

What would happen if they asked what a 3 year old's earliest memory was?

[MrMysteryyy]

what if the reason you cant remember much from when u were a baby is because you didnt have a language to think in

[Az-]

My first memory was moving into a new house when I was 2 or 3. I remember looking at the TV, it was one of those old school big fat TV's. And I remember watching The Amanda Show lol. I literally can't remember anything before that.

[TheBookloverforever]

I started pre-school at / nursery at 3, but I remember things way before than that. I can safely say that I still have memories from at least my 2 year old self. And not hazy memories, clear memories that other people at home have verified to be true. Neighbours and their kids, a trip to a hill-station, my younger brother as a newborn, a family function. I even remember my dreams from back then. A recurrent one with airplanes - sometimes real, sometimes toy airplanes. And if I force myself to remember before that, I sometimes get headaches. True story. I'm 32 now.

[Ultimatestrife]

My first memory: when I was 2, I was getting an injection in my ass for whatever reason. I didn't like the idea of it, so I kicked the doctor in the face.