International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Practice Exam

At what age does the concept of object permanence typically begin to develop?

1. Around 2 months

2. Around 4 months

3. Around 6 months

4. Around 12 months

The correct answer is: Around 4 months

The development of object permanence is a critical milestone in the cognitive development of infants and typically begins to emerge around four months of age. Object permanence refers to the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched. This cognitive skill is foundational for later developmental stages as it contributes to consistent and predictable interactions with the environment. At around four months, infants start to show some awareness of objects that are partially concealed. For example, they may track a moving object that is partially covered, which indicates that they are beginning to understand that those objects still exist even when out of sight. This is an important building block for further cognitive developments, including memory, problem-solving, and even social interactions, as it underlies the ability to understand that people and objects continue to exist independently of the child's immediate experience. As infants grow older, their understanding of object permanence further solidifies. By the time they reach six to twelve months, their ability to search for hidden objects becomes more pronounced, indicating a more sophisticated grasp of the concept. Thus, four months marks the initial emergence of this significant developmental milestone.