How Well Can Newborn Babies See? (2024)

FAQs

How Well Can Newborn Babies See? ›

Babies are born with a full visual capacity to see objects and colors. However, newborns cannot see very far -- only objects that are 8-15 inches away. Newborns prefer to look at faces over other shapes and objects and at round shapes with light and dark borders (such as your adoring eyes).

Your baby sees things best from 8 to 12 inches away. This is the perfect distance for gazing up into the eyes of mom or dad (a favorite thing to do!). Any farther than that, and newborns see mostly blurry shapes because they're nearsighted. At birth, a newborn's eyesight is between 20/200 and 20/400.

Newborns have poor eyesight, in part because they did not get much visual information in the womb. At birth, the average baby's visual acuity is 20/640, ¹ meaning that an object that an average adult can see 640 feet away, would need to be just 20 feet away in order for the baby to see it.

One week after birth, your baby will start to slowly develop color vision. They can also see about 8 10 10 inches away. At 6 weeks of age, a baby can see about 12 inches away.

By two weeks, your baby might start to recognize their caregiver's face, focusing on it for a few seconds as you smile and play with them. Just remember to stay within their field of vision: it's still around 8-12 inches. This is where all of that up-close-and-personal time with your child pays off.

By 1 month old your baby will see your entire face. By 2 to 3 months old their ability to focus will improve. At 3 months old they will enjoy looking at black-and-white patterns. By 3 to 4 months old they will be able to track objects and track in which direction you're looking.

Hearing is fully developed in newborns. Babies with normal hearing should startle in response to loud sounds, pay quiet attention to the mother's voice, and briefly stop moving when sound at a conversational level is begun. Newborns seem to prefer a higher-pitched voice (the mother's) to a low sounding voice (males).

It turns out that babies ability to see is perhaps not as strong as you thought, with it taking up to two years for their vision to fully develop. Just like learning to walk and talk, babies ability to focus and move their eyes takes time and does not happen overnight.

Measuring the response of the pupil (the black center part of the eye) by shining a penlight in the eye is one way to test an infant's vision. Ability to follow a target. The most common vision acuity test in infants is a test to check their ability to look at and follow an object or toy.

Newborns can see contrast between black and white shapes. The first primary color they are able to distinguish is red. This happens in the first few weeks of life. Babies can start to notice differences in shades of colors, particularly between red and green, between 3 and 4 months old.

Can a baby smell its mother? ›

Your baby can smell you.

Newborns have a strong sense of smell and know the unique scent of your breastmilk. That is why your baby will turn his or her head to you when he or she is hungry.

Newborns prefer to look at faces over other shapes and objects and at round shapes with light and dark borders (such as your adoring eyes). Just after birth, a baby sees only in black and white, with shades of gray. As the months go by, they will slowly start to develop their color vision at around 4 months.

Babies can go outside from their first day of life as long as there are no complications. Newborn babies have developing immune systems and are more susceptible to germs and illness, so spending time outdoors is a positive.

Beyond the cuteness explosion you can expect when baby starts smiling around 6 to 12 weeks, it's also an exciting time for their development. Baby's vision and facial recognition is improving, and they're outgrowing their early reflexes. They're also beginning to express feelings, such as excitement or contentment.

A few minutes after birth, most infants open their eyes and start to look around. Newborns can see, but they probably don't focus well at first, which is why their eyes may seem out of line or crossed at times during the first 2–3 months.

Your baby's first laugh might arrive around one month after their first smile. Though 4 months of age is a common time for laughter to emerge, it could happen at 5, 6 or even 7 months old. So get your phone or camera ready to capture these exciting sounds and endearing facial expressions.

“The range of time when a baby will develop their 'true' eye color varies, but it usually happens between six and nine months of age,” Dr. Zepeda says.

A few minutes after birth, most infants open their eyes and start to look around. Newborns can see, but they probably don't focus well at first, which is why their eyes may seem out of line or crossed at times during the first 2–3 months.

When your baby is awake, give him or her supervised time on his or her tummy so he or she can develop upper body muscles. Focus and begin to make eye contact with you. Blink in reaction to bright light. Respond to sound and recognize your voice, so be sure and talk to your baby often.

Babies are born with a full visual capacity to see objects and colors. However, newborns cannot see very far -- only objects that are 8-15 inches away. Newborns prefer to look at faces over other shapes and objects and at round shapes with light and dark borders (such as your adoring eyes).