At what age do infants typically develop object permanence?

Infants typically develop object permanence around the age of 1 year, according to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or otherwise perceived. This milestone marks a significant cognitive development in an infant’s ability to understand that their environment is stable and consistent, even when things are out of sight.

During the earlier stages, particularly in the sensorimotor stage (which lasts from birth to about 2 years), infants show gradual progress with this concept. For instance, from birth to about 4-7 months, infants may exhibit some signs of awareness that objects exist but may not search for them if they are hidden. By 8-12 months, they begin to demonstrate true object permanence when they search for objects that are hidden, indicating a clearer understanding that objects are not simply gone when out of view.

While younger ages, such as birth and 6 months, are too early for the development of this understanding, and by 2 years children are typically consolidating and expanding their cognitive abilities, the milestone of developing a reliable sense of object permanence usually occurs around 1 year of age. This understanding serves as a foundation for further cognitive development in toddlers