Object permanence is the understanding that objects exist even when out of sight. When is this typically present?

• A. 8-12 months
• B. 0-3 months
• C. 18-24 months
• D. At birth

Answer: (A)

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they aren’t visible. This awareness starts to form in infancy and is typically present by the latter part of the first year, around eight to twelve months. Around eight to nine months, babies begin to search for hidden objects, showing they know the object still exists even when out of sight. By about twelve months, many infants reliably retrieve hidden items, and by eighteen to twenty-four months the concept is well established and supports growing memory and problem-solving skills. If you test much earlier, such as zero to three months, infants generally don’t search for hidden objects because the understanding hasn’t developed yet. At birth, there is no expectation that a hidden object still exists, and by the later toddler years the concept is fully in place.