When Do Infants Start Seeing Things?
The moment that a baby opens his eyes for the first time is a milestone that all parents look forward to. While most babies open their eyes only moments after being born, some delay the act for a few hours. The baby's squinting at the light and seeming inability to focus on a single object leaves many parents wondering just what can a baby see. Babies develop their sight gradually, widening the range of things they can see from the time they are in the womb until full 20/20 vision is achieved months later.
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Before Birth
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Babies actually begin to see things before they are born, according to the American Optometrist Association. In the last trimester of the mother's pregnancy, the baby can actually open his eyes and look around, AOA advises. He can only see shapes and shadows in the darkened womb, but that can change as the mother's belly moves in and out of the light. A bright light from a flashlight shined on Mom's belly can actually make the baby change position. Other than light darkness, the baby can see nothing more in the womb.
At Birth
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Whether they are born with their eyes open or they decide to delay the process until later, all babies are born unable to focus on objects, according to Nemours Kids Health. The baby can make out shapes and turn her head toward sounds. However, your baby can't distinguish your face from anyone else's in the hours after birth.
The First Three Months
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The ability to focus comes in the weeks after the baby develops that ability to see up to 12 inches from her face, according to AOA. The organization describes those first months as a time when the baby's eyesight becomes more clear. At this point in development, the baby can see and focus on faces and other objects. She can find Mom's face among others and identify her. She can see things beyond the 12-inch mark by 3 months of age, but she can't focus on those objects, says AOA. By the time she reaches 3 months old, the baby can also discern colors and patterns.
3 to 6 Months
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During this period, the eyes get dramatically stronger. AOA suggests that infants can see and focus for longer distances than the previous 12-inch limit. The eyes start working to perceive depth and coordinate the hand, foot and body movements with eyes that can now track objects placed before her. By 6 months of age, the baby has 20/20 vision.
Color Consideration
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Infants can perceive light and dark at birth, but the ability to discern color comes later. According to the book, "Development: Infancy Through Adolescence," babies can begin to see colors by 2 months of age. Red is the first color perceived in the weeks after birth along with black and white. After weeks of practice, she can discern objects by pattern as well as color. This makes focusing on faces and finding favorite things an enjoyable pastime.
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