The birth of a baby is a wonderful moment, one that you will probably never forget. Think back to the moment you met your baby's gaze for the first time... Did you know that this first glance was in shades of gross for your baby? Vision is the last sense to develop in the fetus, it is not until the 24th week of pregnancy that the retina and optic nerve really develop. From birth to one year old, your baby goes on a journey of visual discovery: from the perception of shapes and colors to sharpness and relief. Discover the key stages of the development of vision in babies during their first months of life.
Baby's vision step by step
From birth to 4 months: First steps in the visual world
From the first days of life, your baby's vision is blurry and limited. Objects and movements appear blurred, and he has difficulty distinguishing colors. At this stage, his vision is mostly in shades of gray. His brain must learn to distinguish colors. You can help him in this process by showing him toys and pictures in bright colors. You can also hang a colorful mobile above his crib or paint his room with primary colors, which will stimulate his visual development.
During these first weeks, your baby begins to perceive faces and expressions at a distance of about 20 cm. However, beyond 60 cm, your baby's vision becomes blurry. This may explain why your baby's eyes are sometimes not fixed when looking at you or observing his surroundings. To improve his visual acuity, approach to a distance of 20 to 25 cm so that he can see your face clearly. Encourage him to follow movements by moving a toy in front of his eyes. In addition, babies are attracted to light sources (whether artificial or natural).
Around 1 month, your baby begins to perceive certain colors, especially green and red, but only very close up. This is the beginning of his visual exploration. At 2 months, his vision improves, allowing him to see up to 60 cm away. He becomes more and more interested in his environment, and this is also the time when you will have the joy of seeing him smile for the first time (and make faces.)
At 3 or 4 months, your baby's vision becomes sharper. He can better distinguish colors and details of nearby objects. His eyes follow a movement more easily, and he no longer needs to systematically move his head to move from one object to another. Finally, at this stage, he begins to lift his head, thus widening his field of vision.
From 5 months to 1 year: Exploration and development
Between 5 and 6 months, your baby's field of vision expands further. He no longer sees only in front of him, but also to the sides. He begins to coordinate his hands and eyes, knowing how far away objects are that he can grab.
At this stage, he begins to perceive lighter shades of color, such as pink or beige for example. Finally, around this age, your baby reaches a new important milestone: mastery of motor skills. He can now get on all fours. This new motor skill allows him to explore his environment in a more active way and discover more about the world around him.
Around the age of one, your baby's vision becomes almost similar to that of an adult. He sees clearly, distinguishes colors and even perceives relief. A whole new world is within his reach!
Your little one has come a long way since birth, right?
Vision problems in babies: signs to watch for:
It's normal to be concerned about your child's vision health. You can have a first vision test at 6 months to make sure everything is in order. If you have any doubts, don't hesitate to consult an ophthalmologist. Here are some signs to watch for:
- Your baby is cross-eyed (after 6 months)
- He does not follow moving objects with his gaze
- He blinks often
- He bumps into things frequently and has difficulty finding his way.
- He is very sensitive to light, and his eyes regularly water.
- He suffers from frequent headaches
These signs may indicate vision problems. A prompt consultation will help diagnose and treat any abnormalities as early as possible.
In short, each stage, each month has something new to offer your baby. What may seem like small developments to you, such as following a movement or recognizing a color, represent a real discovery for your baby. These first months are marked by constant progress, whether it is perceiving shades of color, improving the clarity of vision or developing hand-eye coordination.
By stimulating your baby's vision through appropriate activities, such as exposure to bright colors or using mobile toys, you help him develop his visual abilities. These moments of interaction not only strengthen your child's vision, but also the emotional bond between you.