When Do Babies See Color? Infant Eyesight Development Stages

May 3

Seeing the world through your baby's eyes is a truly magical experience. You watch in awe as they take in their surroundings and discover new sights with wonder and amazement.

But as a new parent, it's common to have questions about your baby's visual journey, like when do babies see color? Or perhaps you're wondering when your little one can recognize your face.

We're going to answer those questions and more right here.

Stages of infant vision development

Over the course of the first year of life, your baby's vision will undergo several changes. Understanding these stages of infant vision development can help you provide the right kind of visual stimulation and support for your baby at each age.

Newborns: adjusting to the light

Your baby's eyes are their window to the world. From the moment they're born, their eyes are hard at work adjusting to the light and taking in everything around them. At first, your newborn will be very sensitive to bright light. If you look closely, you'll notice that their pupils are quite small, which helps to limit the amount of light that enters their eyes.

However, in just a few weeks, as their retinas develop their pupils will widen, and they'll begin to see more of their surroundings. While your little one's vision is still quite blurry, they can see objects that are about 8 to 10 inches away from their face. That's why newborns tend to focus on faces when being held or fed—it's one of the few things they can see clearly.

Two to four months: tracking objects and focusing

By about two months of age, your little one will start to track objects with their eyes and focus on things that are farther away. As your baby's eyes begin to work together more effectively, they may even develop the coordination to bat at objects in their reach.

As a parent, this is such an exciting milestone as your little one starts to engage with their environment more actively.

Five to eight months: depth perception and recognition

Now, to answer the question, "When do babies see color?” The American Optometric Association (AOA) states that by the time your little one is five months old, they will be able to see most colors. Their color vision may not be as sensitive as yours just yet, but they can differentiate colors effectively.

During this stage of development, your baby will also begin to see the world in three dimensions. As they strengthen their depth perception, they can identify how far an object is from them, allowing them to reach for things more easily.

Finally, one of the sweetest milestones your baby will achieve at this age is the ability to recall and recognize familiar objects and faces. Is there anything better than seeing your little one light up with joy when you enter the room?

Nine to twelve months: hand-eye coordination and movement

When your baby reaches nine to twelve months of age, their eyes and body will start to work together more seamlessly. You may notice them starting to grab and manipulate objects with more precision, which is a sign that their hand-eye coordination is improving. They'll also use this improved coordination to guide their gross motor movements as they crawl and learn to walk.

Supporting healthy eye and vision development

Your child's vision not only allows them to experience the world, but it also plays a crucial role in their physical and cognitive development.

Thankfully there are many things you can do to help your little one's visual growth, such as:

Provide your baby with age-appropriate toys that encourage hand-eye coordination.
Watch for problems like delays in tracking objects and inward or outward-turning eyes.
Ensure your little one completes the appropriate infant eye exams and screenings.

Make sleep a priority

“When do babies see color” is just one of many questions parents ask about their child's vision development. It's natural to be curious about what your little one can see, and there's something magical about watching them experience the wonders of the world for the first time.

But remember, your baby's eyes are working hard, and it's important to balance rest and play. Getting quality sleep is vital for your little one's vision development. So, make sure you establish healthy sleep foundations to support your baby as they grow and explore.

If you'd like to learn more, the team at My Sweet Sleeper is here to help. Check out our virtual sleep classes and eBooks, or schedule a free discovery call to discuss what support option is right for you.

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