What Is Object Permanence in Babies?

Everything you've wanted to know about object permanence, including how to help your baby develop this skill.

Medically reviewed by Teja Dyamenahalli, MD, MPH, FAAP

If you have ever played a game of peek-a-boo with your baby or hidden a toy under a blanket and watched them uncover it, then you have seen the concept of object permanence in action. Object permanence is your baby’s ability to recognize that something—or someone—exists even when it is hidden. And though this concept develops over time, it is an important cognitive milestone and an essential part of memory development.

“[Object permanence] was a concept initially introduced by Jean Piaget, a psychologist who developed the theories of cognitive development in children through scientific observation and testing—actually with his own children,” explains Mary Beth DeWitt, PhD, chief of child psychology at Dayton Children's Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. “Although introduced in 1936, the concept has continued to be researched and supported.”

Below, we'll walk you through exactly what object permanence is and how to encourage its development in your baby. We also take a look at unintended consequences of this important developmental milestone—like separation anxiety—and how they are connected, along with when to contact a health care provider with any concerns.

Related: A Week-by-Week Guide to Your Baby's First Year Milestones

How Is Object Permanence a Developmental Building Block?

Object permanence is your baby’s ability to recognize that something continues to exist, even when it is hidden or they can no longer see it. In other words, your baby is able to remember or imagine an object—even when it is no longer within their sight.

Having this skill is not something babies are born with. Early on in infancy, what your baby sees in front of them is all that exists to them. However, this lack of understanding of object permanence does not last long. As this skill develops, they will realize that the object still exists even when they cannot see it. Later, they may even start to look for the hidden object when it is out of sight.

According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, object permanence must be achieved before advancing to higher stages of cognitive development, points out Kathleen Kane, PsyD, a pediatric psychologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“[Object permanence] is an important cognitive milestone because it is an initial step of understanding concepts and symbolic relationships or schemas,” Kane says. “This is important not just for problem solving, but also for developing attachments to others.”

When Do Babies Develop Object Permanence?

Originally, Piaget and other researchers thought that object permanence occurred around 8 to 10 months of age, says DeWitt. Further research has indicated it can occur even earlier, and sometimes as early as 5 months in some babies. But mastering this skill varies from baby to baby. Some babies may show signs of this skill sooner, some later.

“There is a fair amount of normal variation in the development of skills, and often it is better to suggest a range,” she says.

Keep in mind, too, that babies gradually learn about object permanence over time and have better cognitive abilities than we often give them credit for, says Mariel Benjamin, LCSW, director of groups at Cooper and the program director at Mt. Sinai Parenting Center.

“Object permanence is often talked about as if it’s a lightbulb that suddenly turns on between 7 and 9 months, but this isn’t necessarily the case,” Benjamin says. “Babies as young as 2 ½ months have a basic understanding of object permanence, and are constantly building that knowledge by tying together what they observe about people and objects.”

Signs That Your Baby Has Learned Object Permanence

Object permanence and cognitive development is a process, says DeWitt. It takes time for your baby to learn these skills and there is some variation in how quickly they are mastered.

“[But] if you hide a toy or item from your baby and they look for it, then, they likely realize it still exists when hidden or out of sight,” DeWitt adds. “Also, babies may start to crawl after their parents when they are mobile, which suggests understanding that they continue to exist.”

Another way to tell that your baby has learned object permanence is when you see them start to look for things that are no longer in their line of sight, says Kane. They may start to look for a toy that has dropped, their pacifier, or a pet that has left the room.

Connection Between Object Permanence and Separation Anxiety

As your baby begins to understand the concept of object permanence, they also may develop separation anxiety when you are gone or out of sight. Because they do not understand how time works, they can become upset or anxious about the idea of being separated from you.

“Separation anxiety tends to start around 6 months of age, as babies now realize that their parents are still around even when they cannot see them, and they may be distressed by this,” Kane says. “It may also be distressing for parents to see their child upset. Luckily, separation anxiety tends to be a temporary stage, although it may continue into toddlerhood for some children.”

It is also important to understand that if your baby gets upset when you leave, you’re not doing anything wrong. It is developmentally appropriate for their age and understanding, and they will learn that separations and reunions are a normal part of life, says Benjamin. “By being their home base, you’re actually helping them build the foundation to leave, because they know you will be there when they return.”

One way to manage the separation is to have a distraction ready, she says. “Do they love petting the dog? Flipping on light switches? Whatever your baby loves, it can be helpful for the caregiver to know beforehand how to best redirect their attention.”

You also should keep any goodbye routines short and sweet. Also try leaving them with a piece of your clothing with your scent on it, Benjamin suggests. “Research has found that when a baby can smell their caregiver on a T-shirt or blanket, they’re more sociable and open to interacting with other adults.”

Related: How to Handle Separation Anxiety in Babies

Ways to Help Your Baby Understand Object Permanence

It may take time for your baby to develop the skill of object permanence, says Natalie Jedacek, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at Akron Children's Hospital. “Some [also] may have more signs of separation anxiety and slower time adjusting. However, they will achieve [this skill] in time.”

Dr. Jedacek suggests playing games like peek-a-boo with your baby or hiding favorite toys or books under a blanket or behind your back. Books with pictures behind flaps, a jack-in-the-box, or other pop-up toys also help facilitate object permanence, she says.

You can even encourage them by dropping a toy and then looking down at the object and saying “Uh oh!” This directs their attention to the object and encourages their curiosity, Kane advises.

That said, you don’t need to drill your baby every day with games in order for them to learn object permanence. Instead, look at these games as a fun way to interact with your baby while supporting the skills they are learning. 

When to Contact a Health Care Provider

If your baby is older than 12 months and does not seem to grasp object permanence, but is meeting other developmental milestones, it may still be an emerging skill for them, says Kane. “However, if you notice this in addition to other [missed] milestones...it could be helpful to have a conversation with a pediatrician, so they can complete a developmental screening.”

If a health care provider has concerns about your baby’s development, they may refer you for a more thorough evaluation with a developmental specialist, she says. “[Also] attending well-child visits is a great way to receive developmental monitoring, and if you have concerns between visits, you can reach out to their office to request to be seen sooner.”

That said, it's worth keeping in mind that all babies develop skills at different rates, and there are no hard and fast rules about milestones. Your baby is unique, and learns at their own pace. As always, if you find yourself with questions or concerns, be sure to consult a pediatrician or health care provider.

Related: Baby Growth and Development: 8-12 Month Milestones

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