How Your Baby’s Eyesight Develops in the First Year
If you’re a new parent, you may be wondering how your baby sees the world and what you can do to help their vision development. In this blog post, we’ll explain how your baby’s eyesight changes in the first year of life and give you some tips on how to stimulate their visual skills.
Your baby’s vision at birth
When your baby is born, their vision is not fully developed. They can only see blurry shapes and contrasts of light and dark. They are very sensitive to bright light and their pupils are small to limit how much light enters their eyes. They can only focus on objects that are about 20 to 25 cm away from their face, which is the distance from your arms to your face when you hold them.
Your baby may not look directly at you right away, as they need some time to adjust to the new environment. But don’t worry, they will soon start to recognize your face and smile at you. Babies are naturally drawn to faces, especially those with high contrast features like eyes and mouth.
Your baby’s vision at 2 to 3 months
At this stage, your baby’s vision improves rapidly as their retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye) develops. They can see more colors and details, and they can track moving objects with their eyes. They may also start to follow your gaze and look at what you’re looking at.
Your baby’s eyes may not work together very well at first, and they may appear to be crossed or wandering. This is normal and usually corrects itself by 4 months. However, if one of your baby’s eyes constantly turns in or out, you should talk to your pediatrician or an eye doctor.
Your baby’s vision at 5 to 8 months
At this stage, your baby’s vision is almost as good as an adult’s. They can see depth and distance, and they can reach for objects both near and far. They have good color vision, though not as fully developed as yours. They can also recognize familiar faces and objects across a room or through a window.
Your baby may enjoy looking at books, toys, and pictures with bright colors and patterns. You can also play peek-a-boo or hide-and-seek games with them to help them remember what an object is even if they only see part of it.
Your baby’s vision at 9 to 12 months
At this stage, your baby can judge distance pretty well and has good hand-eye coordination. They can pull themselves up to stand and may start to crawl or walk. They can also grasp small objects with their fingers and thumb.
Your baby may be curious about everything around them and explore their surroundings with their eyes and hands. You can encourage their visual development by giving them different textures, shapes, and sizes to touch and feel. You can also name the objects they see and point out their colors, numbers, and letters.
How to help your baby’s eyesight
Here are some ways you can help your baby’s eyesight develop in the first year:
- Give your baby plenty of tummy time to strengthen their neck muscles and improve their eye coordination.
- Hold your baby close to your face and talk to them. Make eye contact and smile often.
- Change your baby’s position and direction frequently so they can see different views.
- Provide your baby with toys that have contrasting colors, patterns, sounds, and textures. Move them slowly in front of your baby’s eyes and let them reach for them.
- Read books with your baby and point out the pictures. Choose books that have simple images, bright colors, and large fonts.
- Sing songs with your baby and make gestures with your hands. For example, you can sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and show them how to open and close their fingers like stars.
- Play games with your baby that involve hiding and finding objects. For example, you can hide a toy under a blanket and ask them where it is.
- Take your baby outside and let them see different sights, sounds, and smells. Point out the trees, flowers, animals, cars, etc.
- Have your baby’s eyes checked by a pediatrician or an eye doctor at regular intervals. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that babies have their first eye exam at 6 months old.
Sources:
[1] Your Baby’s Vision Development
[2] Vision Development: Newborn to 12 Months
[3] What Should You Know About Your Baby’s Vision?
[4] Developmental milestones: sight
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Check out our fun facts section – What colors can babies see?
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