When do babies see better

Screening tests in children and adolescents. Visual development and vision assessment in infants and children. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: iStock. Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Darienne Hosley Stewart. Featured video. When can I take my baby out of the house?

Caring for your newborn's umbilical cord stump. Bathing your newborn. Newborn body care. Newborn Baby. When can I take my newborn outside? My newborn fusses when I lay him down. How do I break him of this habit? Because all babies develop differently, you might notice that some of the months and milestones overlap. Mom Tip: At 1 month, Baby's eyes are not very sensitive to light. Don't worry about having the light on or turning it on while your baby naps. It won't affect her ability to sleep.

Mom Tip: Now is the time to buy a mobile for above the crib. Baby will love lying on his back and staring up at the moving objects. At this age, your baby will watch your lips move as you read, sing, and talk to him. Mom Tip: At this point, your baby is going to be more interested in toys and pictures. He'll constantly grasp for things that stimulate his vision. Around six months, introduce simple games like rolling a ball back and forth, which boosts hand-eye coordination.

And encourage visual memory by hiding a toy under a blanket and then revealing it to him. Throughout the development of Baby's vision — especially in her first months — the best visual stimulation is seeing a caregiver's face. There is scientific evidence that babies have a genetic preference for looking at human faces. However, it isn't really our features they like to look at. It's our hairline. Babies like the contrast between our skin and hair colors.

Your pediatrician will check out your baby's vision during your scheduled checkups. Most of the time, she'll do it so quickly you might not even know it happened. Because of this, it isn't necessary for your baby to have an eye exam until 6 months of age. But don't be afraid to ask your pediatrician about the status of your child's eyes during checkups. And if you think there is a problem with your child's eyes before his 6-month exam, trust your instincts and see a doctor.

David Coats, a pediatric ophthalmologist and clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, says if a baby's eyes are open, they're developing.

However, it's still important to be aware of signs that could prompt reasons to see a doctor. Here are things you might want to watch out for:. Mom Tip: Premature babies are predisposed to vision problems and should be examined by an ophthalmologist before they head home from the hospital.

Understanding Your Baby's Developing Vision. By Emily Cook April 01, Save Pin More. Your baby's vision will go from blurry to bright in a few months. Know the milestones as your baby's vision develops, and learn how to help accommodate his changing eyesight.

This week-by-week, month-by-month guide will guide you through the process. Start Slideshow. Credit: Shutterstock. Credit: Digital Vision. Click here for downloadable black-and-white PDFs to help stimulate Baby's vision. Click here for cards to excite Baby's eyes. Newborn Baby Looking Up. Mom Playing with Newborn. Credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy. This is an important developmental period for your child. At this stage, infants are developing a better overall awareness of their body and learning how to coordinate their vision with their movements.

Bumps, bruises, eye injuries and other serious accidents can occur as they start to physically explore their environment. In particular, keep cabinets locked and put barriers in front of stairs. Strabismus is the term for a misalignment of the eyes. The average length of a normal pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks. Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature, according to the World Health Organization. Premature babies are at greater risk of eye problems than full-term babies, and the odds increase the earlier the child is born.

ROP is the abnormal replacement of normal tissue in the retina with fibrous tissue and blood vessels. It can cause scarring of the retina, poor vision and retinal detachment. In severe cases, retinopathy of prematurity can lead to blindness.

All premature babies are at risk of ROP. Very low birth weight is an additional risk factor, especially if it is necessary to place the infant in a high-oxygen environment immediately after birth. If your baby is born prematurely, ask your obstetrician to refer you to a pediatric ophthalmologist so they can perform an internal eye exam and rule out ROP.

The eye movements are usually horizontal, but they can be diagonal or rotational as well. Nystagmus can be present at birth, or it may develop weeks to months later. Risk factors include albinism , congenital cataracts and incomplete development of the optic nerve. If your baby shows signs of nystagmus, consult a pediatric ophthalmologist or other eye doctor as soon as possible.