Vision: What Can Your Baby See?

Babies can see even before birth, usually light and shadows. After birth their vision develops quickly and continues to develop throughout the first year of life. Here is a guide through your baby’s first year.

Newborns generally have poor eyesight but can see large shapes that are close to them. The amount of color vision is not known for certain but infants can probably see bright colors and patterns. Babies like objects with high contrast, such as black-and-white bullseye patterns, checkerboards and concentric circles of contrasting colors. It is good for your baby to have different things to look at and they enjoy it when you occasionally change the objects in their environment. Before birth, your baby was accustomed to a dark, muted environment.

Initially, your baby may not be able to look at you and follow your face. But as they grow and remain awake for longer periods, their eyesight will improve. Position your baby face-to-face about six to 10 inches away. This is where your baby can see the best and faces are a baby’s favorite visual stimulation.

By three to four months most babies can focus on a variety of smaller objects and can tell the difference between colors (especially red and green). Babies older than three months should be able to follow or "track" an object, like a toy or ball, with their eyes as it moves across their field of vision. By four months a baby’s eyes should be working together. This is when babies begin to develop depth perception (binocular vision).

Strabismus (cross eyes). Before four months of age most babies eyes occasionally look misaligned. This is normal. If this lasts beyond four months, let your pediatrician know.

By 12 months a child’s vision reaches normal adult levels.

Warning Signs of Vision Problems in Children 

While children with a family history of childhood vision problems are more likely to have eye problems themselves, all parents should know the warning signs of vision problems.

Let your child's doctor know if you notice any one of the following:

• If your baby can't make steady eye contact by 4 months or seems unable to see
• Strabismus (cross eyes) lasting beyond 4 months
• Eyes that are misaligned (look crossed, turn out, or don't focus together)
• White or grayish-white color in the pupil
• Eyes that flutter quickly from side to side or up and down
• Bulging eye(s)
• Child often complains of eye pain, itchiness, or discomfort
• Redness in either eye that doesn't go away in a few days
• Pus or crust in either eye
• Eyes that are always watery
• Drooping eyelid(s)
• Child rubs or squints eyes often
• Eyes that are always sensitive to light
• Any change in the eyes from how they usually look

Keep in mind that each child’s vision develops at his or her own rate but the overall pattern of development is the same. Because a baby’s vision develops quickly during the first year of life, your child’s doctor will check your baby’s eyes at each well-child visit.

Even after the first year, regular eye exams by your child’s doctor are important to identify problems that may arise later in childhood.

See the following articles from the American Academy of Pediatrics on related topics:

• Newborn Eyesight
• Vision Screenings for Babies and Children
• Warning Signs of Vision Problems in Infants and Children

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