Remembering Infancy is devoted to gathering and sharing very early memories. My name is Cathie Simpson. I am a clinical therapist in upstate New York. In 2005, I wrote a dissertation on early memory because it bothered me that the general assumption (thanks largely to Freud, I believe) was that early memory was impossible. I believe very early recollection is a misunderstood mental ability and entirely possible, if not likely. It may even be an advanced, evolutionary function.

With this website and your help, I am gathering data for my ongoing research. The memories I'm interested in are those from the first 18 months after birth, from before you could talk, or even walk. From the memories I've gathered so far, I find that most were of events that occurred during the 8th through 14th months of life, but some were from much earlier.  

I suspect that early remembering may be a sign of a stable childhood, but that is a conjecture that my curiosity wants to know more about. What I do know is that early memories are alive and healthy, but often hidden and protected because they aren't believed by others, or even by ourselves.

I also know that when I ask someone what their earliest memory is, those of you who have very early recollections have an immediate answer, whereas others pause to consider an answer; this is my clue that they have clearly never given it much thought and won't have a very early story regardless of how long they think about it.

This site is designed to be a safe place to share your wonderful early moments with others who know them to be true. Please submit your earliest memories on the "Remembrances" page.