In this talk I would like to summarize research and debate on early declarative memory competencies: whether young infants can form episodic memories. First, I will introduce the dispute on how episodic memory is defined. Taking Tulving’s definition, I plan to show that research with imitation-like methodology cannot be conclusive in this field. Additionally, I’ll present a novel set of relational memory studies and preliminary data that could highlight that recollective mnemonic processes (episodic recall) include higher order, top-down processes that emerge later in development.