When Do Babies See

When Do Babies See

Babies' vision develops rapidly in the first year of life, and they experience significant improvements in their ability to see over the course of several months:

1- Newborn:

1. At birth, babies have limited vision, with acuity somewhere between 20/200 and 20/400. This means they can only see objects clearly that are very close, around 8-12 inches away, which is about the distance from their face to their caregiver's face when being held.
2. They are more sensitive to light than adults and may prefer looking in dim environments.
3. They can see some colors, but not as many or as vividly as adults. High-contrast patterns and black and white images are more visually interesting for them at this stage.
4. Their eye movements are not yet coordinated, so they may appear crossed or wandering. This is normal and improves with time.

2- 1-3 Months:

1. Vision starts to improve rapidly. By 1 month, they can focus on objects up to 18 inches away.
2. They begin to track moving objects with their eyes and show interest in faces, especially familiar ones.
3. Color vision continues to develop.

3- 3-6 Months:

1. Depth perception starts to develop, allowing them to see objects in 3D.
2. They can follow objects smoothly with their eyes and reach out to grab them.
3. They enjoy looking at high-contrast colors and patterns.

4- 6-12 Months:

1. Vision acuity continues to improve, reaching around 20/40 by 6 months and closer to 20/20 by 12 months.
2. Hand-eye coordination develops, allowing them to pick up small objects and explore their surroundings more actively.
3. They start to recognize familiar objects and people from a distance.

It's important to note that this is a general timeline, and individual babies may develop at their own pace. If you have any concerns about your baby's vision, it's always best to consult with a pediatrician or eye doctor.