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Original poster

At what age is it normal to remember childhood from?

108 replies

user40816 · 12/04/2023 22:43

I realised today that I have almost no memory before the age of around 7 and even afterwards, things are hazy. But then I also realise I don't know what's normal so I'm interested to gain some perspective...

OP posts:

SaltyGod · 13/04/2023 15:32

Despite what the link might say I can remember from when I was around 2-2.5yrs old. They are specific and detailed memories of day to day events which couldn't come from photos and have been checked with adults that were there at the time.

We also moved around lots so I wonder if that helped to set the memories.

Enfys1982 · 13/04/2023 15:49

Hazy memories from about aged two, clear ones from about four onwards.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/04/2023 17:17

RedToothBrush · 13/04/2023 15:13

Me and my son are miracles of nature then. Obviously.

I guess we should give brains for medical research.

Show quote history

Me too. I remember specific things that happened at two and a half. I think the birth of my sister was the trigger as those memories are centred around this - my Dad trying to make a cake while my Mum was in hospital and my sister's nappy leaking on my mum's dress when we picked them up from hospital.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/04/2023 17:18

SaltyGod · 13/04/2023 15:32

We also moved around lots so I wonder if that helped to set the memories.

I also moved around a lot and my memories are attached to the various places.

Oldnproud · 13/04/2023 17:45

crossstitchingnana · 13/04/2023 10:59

I think before 3 our memories are created from what we have been told.

For women the earliest we can remember is 3 and men 5.

I have loads of memory from 3 all the way through my childhood.

Some might be, but lots of us on here remember things that others didn't experience.
I was outside alone when I injured my arm age 2.5. I remember lying there crying, and looking up at the window wondering why no one had instantly appeared to help me. That's far from the only part of the memory that is unique to me, but it is the easiest to be absolutely sure that it wasn't something I could have been told.

RedToothBrush · 13/04/2023 18:58

The things I remember and the things my mum remember are wildly different. Theres a fair few my Mum has no recollection of but knows are right from what I've told her.

One of my early memories is of going to nursery which was attached to the school. I remember walking through the school hall/gym and thinking just how enormous it was.

It wasn't just the memory, it was the feeling that went with it.

Like others most of my earliest memories are connected to specific events.

BlackeyedSusan · 13/04/2023 19:25

CountingMareep · 13/04/2023 00:32

I can remember places from 2 and a half, events from 3. I think memories are linked to language development and ‘episodic’ memory to the ability to sequence and order thoughts. It’s interesting that women on average seem to have much earlier memories than men - there are far more men in the ‘can’t remember anything before the age of 7’ camp. Would be interested to see if there are any links with ND conditions.

Autistic and remember from early two-year old.

Plannersareus · 13/04/2023 20:29

I have a memory of opening a lift up desk in my final year of juniors so around 11 years old, I'm in my laye 40s and had a traumatic childhood, my memories are clouded and I've blocked so much out, when my parents speak of childhood it's like I am a different person

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