When does the concept of object permanence typically develop in infants?

The concept of object permanence typically develops around 8 months of age in infants. This cognitive milestone marks a significant step in a child's development, as it indicates the understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not in sight. Prior to this age, infants may not search for an object that has been hidden, demonstrating that they do not yet comprehend that the object is still present, just out of view.

At around 8 months, as infants begin to explore their environment more actively and engage in rudimentary problem-solving, they start to show behaviors that indicate they are developing this understanding. For example, they may search for a toy that has been covered with a cloth, showing that they can mentally represent the toy's existence despite it being concealed.

As infants continue to grow, their understanding of object permanence becomes more sophisticated, but the foundation of this concept is typically established around this 8-month mark. This aligns with established developmental psychology theories, notably those proposed by Jean Piaget, who studied cognitive development in children.