Vision & Age

Development

It is an age of amazement and wonder. Everything is new. Everything is exciting. And vision is one of your baby's most important links to the new world.

The contrast is amazing

Even in the womb babies can tell the difference between light and dark. And at birth, they see shapes by following the lines where light and dark meet. Yet, they are several weeks old before they can see their first primary color: red. No wonder they prefer highly contrasted patterns to plain surfaces.

Track the stages

Newborns: Can see 25 cm to 30 cm the distance to their mother's face when nursing. Love faces and high contrast objects.

Three months: Can track a moving object. Highly graphic mobiles and toys can stimulate visual development.

Six months: Retina is well-developed. Can see small details; distance and depth perception continue to improve. May develop a real interest in books.

One year: En route to full development. Eye-hand coordination is enhanced by games involving pointing, grasping, tossing, placing, and catching.

Keep them stimulated

Babies' minds grow and develop rapidly during their first year and proper stimulation can increase curiosity, attention span, memory, and nervous system development. It may even lead to a better self-image. So be sure to give your baby plenty of interesting things to see.

Try bold black and white patterns like checkerboards, bull's eyes, stripes and dots. Install mobiles and crib panels. Offer rattles, blocks, and stuffed animals. Read lots of books. Your baby will benefit from the images. And from your company.

Did you pass it down?

If any of these disorders run in your family, your children may inherit them. So keep an eye out for any signs of trouble.