Baby's Vision Development

What can my baby see during the first year of life?

A baby’s vision develops very quickly during the first year of life.

• At birth babies don’t have normal adult vision, but they can see.
• Newborns can see large shapes and faces, as well as bright colors.
• By 3 to 4 months most babies can focus on a variety of smaller objects and can tell the difference between colors (especially red and green).
• By 4 months a baby’s eyes should be working together. This is when babies begin to develop depth perception (binocular vision).
• By 12 months a child’s vision reaches normal adult levels.

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.