Can your child see?

0-1-month

Your newborn can see best at a distance of only 8 to 12 inches, and focus when gazing up from the arms of mom or dad. Newborns are very sensitive to bright light and are more likely to open their eyes in low light.

Give your infant lots of interesting sights to look at. Human faces, bright colors, contrasting patterns  are the things a newborn likes to look at best. Black-and-white pictures or toys will attract and keep your baby’s interest far longer than objects or pictures with lots of similar colors.

1-3 month

As babies grow, vision improves so that by the end of 3 months they can recognize familiar faces even at a distance. Human faces are one of an infant’s favorite things to look at, especially a parent’s.

Your baby’s color vision is also developing, so brightly colored wall hangings or toys will help develop this ability to distinguish color and form.

By the second to third month, your baby’s eye coordination has improved enough to follow an object. By the end of this period, he or she may begin to swipe at objects.

4-7 month

Babies this age now can track even rapid motion with their eyes. Your baby can follow the course of a rolling ball. You may see your baby staring in concentration while holding a toy or studying his or her own hands.

Babies this age enjoy more complex designs and can distinguish colors. Try reading books with large, brightly colored pictures to your baby.

8-12 month

He or she is able to see quite well and even focus on quickly moving objects. Your baby is now putting motor skills together with vision, and it’s likely that he or she can spot a toy across the room, focus on it, move to it, pick it up, and explore it in a variety of ways.