Which of the following best characterizes object permanence development?

• A. It is present at birth
• B. It develops by age 3
• C. It is not observable in infancy
• D. It develops around 8-12 months

Answer: (D)

Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they’re not in view. In early infancy this is not present, and babies do not actively search for hidden objects. By about 8–12 months, infants start to search for partially hidden objects and will look for objects that disappear, demonstrating the emergence of this concept. This timeline fits best because it captures the typical onset of observable object permanence during infancy, with more mature understanding developing over the second year. Saying it’s present at birth or not observable in infancy ignores the clear emergence around 8–12 months, and saying it develops by age 3 is less precise and implies later onset.