"Whilst a newborn’s eyes can see, their brain needs to develop further so that the information can be translated correctly. Their eyesight develops gradually over the first few months through the first year" - Jilly Clarke

Baby's vision development - how does a baby see?

Despite the 4 other main senses (hearing, taste, touch and smell) being almost fully developed at birth, vision is one sense that takes a while to develop. Other senses are proprioception and vestibular (balance).

New babies can see, but their vision isn’t very focused. Everything further than around 20cm away from their eyes is fuzzy. Initially, babies mostly see in black, white, and grey as their brains are unable to distinguish other colours well. From around 1-2 months old their ability to detect colour develops, although the subtle differences between colours are difficult to distinguish at first.

Whilst a newborn’s eyes can see, their brain needs to develop further so that the information can be translated correctly. Their eyesight develops gradually over the first few months through the first year – this is a great tool to see what your baby can see at various stages

If you’d like to learn more about developing baby’s senses then our Baby Development online course gives you all the information for baby’s physical and mental development.

How far can a baby see?

We know that initially a baby’s range of focused vision around 20-30cm. That is that ideal space between your breast, or your elbow and face – so when they are feeding or being cuddled they can take in your features and help with bonding.

At first you might notice that their eyes are uncoordinated, often moving independently of each other or being frequently crossed. This is perfectly normal at first and a combination of developing their eye muscles and brain development will stop this from happening.

You might also notice at first that they will stare at bright sources of light like a window or lamp. Again, this is perfectly fine as a newborn baby needs around 50 times more light than an adult for them to realise that it is present.

Gradually through the months baby’s sight will develop. At around 10-11 months their eyesight and ability to detect subtle colours and details will be pretty much fully developed.

Baby's vision development timeline - what can baby see when?

This table is a good reference for when baby should be able to respond to certain visual responses. You can see the table here.

Newborn

• Limited vision: Can only see clearly within about 15-30 cm.

• Focus on light and dark: Responds to changes in light and can distinguish between light and dark.

• Tracking: May begin to follow moving objects with their eyes, but movements may be jerky.

1-2 months

• Improved focus: Can focus on objects more easily.

• Tracking: Can follow moving objects more smoothly.

• Social interaction: Begins to show interest in faces and may start to smile.

3-4 months

• Depth perception: Starts to develop an understanding of depth, allowing them to reach for objects.

• Colour vision: Can distinguish between different colours.

• Eye coordination: Eyes begin to work together more effectively.

5-9 months

• Enhanced vision: Can see clearly at a distance. 

• Hand-eye coordination: Improves as they reach for and grasp objects.

• Developing depth perception: Becomes better at judging distances and becomes increasingly interested in details e.g. washing labels on toys.

• Visual exploration: Enjoys exploring their surroundings with their eyes.

• Imitation: Begins to imitate facial expressions and actions.

10-12 months

• Near adult-like vision: Vision is almost fully developed.

• Object recognition: Can recognize familiar people and objects from a distance.

• Visual-motor skills: Improves coordination between what they see and their body movements.

Vision development games from 0-12 months

Newborn

• Get close and allow them to study your face. Allow baby to get to you know you face during this time to help with bonding. If possible try to keep the outline of your face the same during the first month or so. Try to keep to similar hairstyles if possible to allow them to recognise you.

• Pull different facial expressions to see if there is any reaction.

• Black and white contrast cards: These high-contrast images can stimulate your baby’s vision.

• Tummy time: While on their tummy, your baby can focus on different objects and textures.

• Softly talking: Your baby will be drawn to your voice, helping them focus their eyes.

1-2 months

• They will start to be able to fix on an object and follow it with their eyes so you can start to introduce some tracking games from this point.

• A good tracking game is: with your face or even fingers, slowly move up and down away from them and towards their face. It is all really good practice to help with their eye development. You naturally do these things anyway but it is so great to know that we are helping baby’s development when we play with them! 

• Use your voice as you move your fingers around, or move your face around to let them follow you.

• As with everything, tracking objects is a developmental skill and one that requires practice, to coordinate eyes and head moving together. Usually from around 2 months this skill develops and will be honed – in our baby classes you’ll notice that at some point, as baby’s sight is developing and they can see further they will start to focus on their neighbour’s hands. It is a funny sight to see all the babies following someone else’s hands as they move – but a great thing to know that they are just enjoying their new found sight!

• Mobile with contrasting colours: A mobile can help your baby track moving objects.

• Rattle sounds: The sound of a rattle can attract your baby’s attention and encourage eye movement.

3-4 months

• Baby’s vision is starting to get sharper, as is their movement. They will start to track and focus on objects more, with sometimes less movement of the head. If you talk to them as you walk around the room, or move a favourite toy around with you, they will likely follow you with their eyes now.

• They can start to shift their focus from one object to another without having to move their head too. So, a great game is holding two objects, one in each of your hands and moving them around one at a time to get baby to look from one to the others.

• They will also start to develop some hand to eye coordination at this point too so will start to grab at things they see – although not always accurate! Reaching and tracking games are still great fun at this age.

• Colourful toys: Provide bright and colourful toys to stimulate their colour vision.

• Tummy time with toys: Place toys within reach to encourage reaching and grasping, developing their hand-eye coordination

• Mirror play: Babies love to look at themselves in the mirror, helping with face recognition.

5-8 months

• Their colour and depth perception is growing and you might find them attempting to move towards objects of interest to them from now.

• They will start to find differences in colour, texture and detail really interesting and might start examining labels of toys!

• As their vision and hand-eye coordination improves, so does their speed and accuracy. You’ll start to notice they’ll start finding the teeniest things and put them directly towards their mouth. Whilst this is a great sign of readiness for food, it takes parenting to a whole new level when they find bits on the floor!

• Hide-and-seek: Simple hide-and-seek games can help develop object permanence.

• Textured toys: Offer toys with different textures to explore through touch and sight.

• Cause and effect toys: Toys that make noise when shaken or pressed can encourage visual tracking.

• Peek-a-boo: This classic game continues to be fun and helps with object permanence.

9-12 months

• Around now your baby’s eyes will be roughly the same colour they’ll have for the rest of their life.

• Their vision is almost fully developed, with distance sight improving all the time. By around 12 months they will have the same range of vision as an adult.

• Sorting toys: Simple sorting toys can help with colour and shape recognition.

• Books with pictures: If you haven't already, introduce board books with bright pictures to stimulate visual interest.

• Shape sorters: More complex shape sorters can challenge their visual-spatial skills.

• Puzzles with simple pieces: Start with basic puzzles to develop problem-solving and visual skills.

• Outdoor exploration: Encourage your baby to explore their surroundings, observing different objects and people.

What if baby doesn't meet milestones with their visual development?

When they are small, if you notice that baby has a preference for looking to one side or can track but stops when the object moves from to their unpreferred side it may be that their muscles in their neck are stiff on one side, possibly a condition called Torticollis. Gentle massage opening techniques can help to relive tension in the neck and shoulder, you can also continue to try tracking games; also alternating the direction that baby is put down in their cot or basket can encourage them to lengthen their stiff side. A cranial osteopath may be able to help too. Particularly if there is an issue with feeding.

If you are ever concerned about baby’s vision development then talking with your Health Visitor, GP and/or arranging an eye test is never a bad idea. All babies develop at their own pace so these development stages are a general guide. However, if you notice that their development is not progressing as expected and you are concerned then there are people who are there to help you.

We run baby classes that are perfectly designed to help with baby's sensory development. Currently running in Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

Baby Classes in person, in Welwyn Hatfield

We also offer a range of baby development and parenting workshops that are completely on-demand, online.

Baby Development Course online