Vision development in children

One of the most beautiful moments for any mother is when her baby looks at her for the first time.

During the first few weeks of life, a baby’s vision is not fully developed, as their visual system requires time to grow and mature. In the first week, their sight is limited to seeing some shadows.

The complete development of a child’s visual system may take several months. Understanding the stages of visual development in children will help you closely monitor your baby’s progress. This knowledge will also be valuable in identifying any potential vision-related issues early on, if present.

Fetal Vision Development

Your baby’s visual development starts even before birth. Maintaining your overall health and taking proper care of your body during pregnancy are essential to ensure the healthy development of your baby’s vision and brain. For this reason, it is strongly advised to:

You should also avoid taking any medications during pregnancy without consulting your doctor, including aspirin and common pain relievers, to prevent exposing your baby to risks such as low birth weight. Researchers have linked low birth weight to vision problems in children.

You must also completely refrain from smoking, as the toxic substances in cigarettes can have severe effects, including vision problems for your baby.

You should follow your doctor’s instructions regarding proper nutrition and the amount of rest you need.

Vision development in newborns:

Immediately after birth, the pediatrician or obstetrician should examine your baby’s eyes to check for any congenital or newborn-specific issues, such as congenital cataracts. Early detection of such problems greatly aids in proper treatment. The doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic ointment to prevent any bacterial infection that could affect your baby’s eyes during the first few days.

At birth, your baby’s vision is limited to black, white, and some shades of gray due to the incomplete development of the nerve cells connected to the brain in the retina. Additionally, a newborn may not be able to focus on objects that are close. Therefore, there is no need to worry if you notice your baby not paying attention to nearby objects; it is simply a matter of time.

Your baby’s eyes at one month:

At one month, babies begin to develop their color vision rapidly. By the age of one week, a baby can distinguish colors like red, orange, yellow, and green. However, recognizing colors like blue and violet takes longer because blue has a shorter wavelength, and the receptors for blue in the human retina are fewer.

At one month old, your baby’s eyes are less sensitive to light. In fact, the amount of light required for a one-month-old to perceive light is fifty times greater than that needed for an adult. Therefore, leaving some light on in the sleeping area will not bother your baby.

Tip: To help stimulate your baby’s vision, you can decorate their room with light-colored and bright furniture and toys.

Vision development during the second and third months:

Many developments in vision occur during the second and third months. Babies begin to develop sharper vision, and their eye movements start to synchronize. At this stage, your baby should begin to follow moving objects and reach for things they see. Another expected development during this period is that your baby will learn to shift their gaze from one object to another without having to move their head each time. Your baby’s eyes also become more sensitive to light, and by the age of three months, the amount of light needed to detect light is only ten times greater than that required for an adult.

Tip: To help stimulate your baby’s vision at 3 months old:

While awake, let your baby lie on their stomach under supervision, as this enhances their vision development.

Talk to your child as you walk around the room.

Add some new items to the room or change the position of the bed in the room.

Vision development during the fourth to sixth months:

By the age of four to six months, there should also be coordination between vision and hand movements, allowing babies to locate objects and reach for or aim at them.

By the age of four to six months, there should also be coordination between vision and hand movements, allowing babies to locate objects and reach for or aim at them.

By the age of six months, important developments occur in the brain’s visual centers, resulting in the baby’s ability to see more clearly, move their eyes faster, and track objects more accurately.

Vision development from seven months to the first year:

At this stage, your baby becomes more active. They may start crawling and playing on the floor and become more accurate in tracking toys and surrounding objects. This stage is very important in your baby’s development as they begin to develop an awareness of their body and learn to connect their movements with what they see. It is very important to closely monitor your baby because, with their increased movement and exploration of their surroundings, they may be more prone to eye injuries. Therefore, be cautious and keep sharp or metal objects, as well as chemicals like medications and cleaning supplies, out of reach.

Tip: To help develop your child’s vision-movement association, sit together on the floor and place some toys at a distance from him and encourage him to pick them up.