Few things are more exciting than watching your baby explore their new world after birth. Your baby’s vision is well developed at birth when compared to many other mammals. But most new parents ask the same question. That is, “When can my baby see me?” We explore answers to this question and others, below.
 

When can my baby see me?

Babies have to learn how to see after birth, particularly when it comes to focusing and following objects with their eyes. The world is blurry to them, at first. It takes a full three to five years for them to develop 20/20 vision from their birth vision at about 20/400.

Babies also have to learn how to hold their gaze in one position. This is why many new parents ask, “When can my baby see me?” They first notice their baby’s eye movements seem haphazard in comparison to older children and adults.

Although the answer to the question of “When can my baby see me” is not as positive or early as you would like, it is still very important to help your baby’s vision develop. Practice helps improve their eyesight and encourages a healthy visual experience. Visual encouragement also helps your baby develop his or her reflexes.
 

When can my baby see color?

Another hot question among new parents is, “When can my baby see color?” This stage of your baby’s vision takes longer to develop. Their vision is weak at birth, making them unable to distinguish between colors. But in the weeks after birth, they rapidly start seeing different colors like red and green. By the age of three months or so, your baby’s vision will include clarity of red, green, yellow and blue. At five months, most babies have good color vision along a broader spectrum of hues.
 

When can my baby see fully?

Finally, let’s answer your third question about your baby’s vision. That is, “When can my baby see fully?” As with other types of development, vision development varies from one baby to the next. But your baby’s vision includes multiple milestones from zero to three months and again from three to six months.
 

Changes to Your Baby’s Vision at 0-3 Months

From birth to three months, your baby can only fix their eyes and focus on close objects and people. Their vision is best at a range of 10 to 12 inches from their faces, at most. In other words, your baby sees you clearest when you hold, feed, bathe and change him or her. If you notice signs that your baby does not pay attention to you at this distance or during these activities, you should visit your baby’s eye doctor to evaluation.

By their third week of life, your baby can focus on you and near objects for up to 10 or 12 seconds at a time. Crossed and wandering eyes are common at this stage of your baby’s vision development and through eight weeks to four months. So, do not worry if you notice these moments without eye coordination.

It is important to note some signs of possible problems with your baby’s vision at this stage. These signs include:

• Staying in a crossed, fixed or deviated position for long periods

• Quick and repeated fluttering or rhythmic movement

• Jiggling or shimmering of eyes in an involuntary manner

• Having a white or yellow reflection instead of red

• Having white pupils

If you wonder “can my baby see me” at greater distances in these first months, you will notice improvement in your baby’s vision. Over time, they focus better at farther distances. They start smiling and responding to people who come in the room or pick them up, particularly Mom, Dad, grandparents or their siblings. They also start moving their head to follow moving objects by about three months of age.
 

Your Baby’s Vision at 4-6 Months

From four to six months, if you wonder whether your baby can see color, you will feel pleased with their progress! At this age they can see color and even depth within their field of vision. Both eyes work together. Their range of vision and eye-body movement skills continue to grow and develop. At about six months of age, your baby can see much more clearly. In fact, their vision clarity is almost fully developed.

At this age, if you notice signs that your baby’s eyes do not follow objects or people’s faces, you should set an appointment with their optometrist or ophthalmologist. Also schedule a visit if their eyes cross or wander. Your baby’s eye doctor is your best resource for tracking your child’s healthy vision development and evaluating signs of problems.
 

Clarity Vision Is Your Child’s New Eye Care Center

Just like your child needs a pediatrician and a dentist, he or she also needs an eye care specialist. The optometrists and ophthalmologists of Clarity Vision look forward to providing your whole family with the eye care you need. Our convenient NC and VA locations include:

• Smithfield, NC

• Apex, NC

• Williamston, NC

• Clayton, NC

• Holly Springs, NC

• Suffolk, VA

Clarity Vision’s eye doctors can answer all of your questions about your baby’s vision, such as, “Can my baby see me?” Schedule your child’s first visit with Clarity Vision today.