“Your Baby’s Vision: Get it right!”
Welcome to parenthood—the land of sleepless nights and endless diapers!
Let’s take a light hearted look at what your bundle of joy can see (and when)!
0–1 Month: Very Fuzzy
At this stage, they can see about 8–10 inches—just enough to catch the blurry version of your face when you’re feeding them. And please don’t invest in coloured toys.
However if you have already spent a fortune on rainbow-colored mobiles, it’s okay—your baby will appreciate them… in about 5 months.
2–3 Months: Less Fuzzy
Now the fun begins. Your baby might start to track moving objects.
Smiles become intentional, which means your baby is starting to recognize you (or at least the person who feeds them the most) – the social smile!
4–6 Months: Taste the Rainbow (Visually)
At last, your baby starts to see colours! Reds, greens, and yellows are now distinguishable. Time for the bright coloured toys. But remember: your phone and spectacles still beat the fancy toys every single time.
They also start to reach for things.
6–12 Months: Drama and Glasses-Grabbing
Welcome to the era of depth perception! Now your baby knows that something is close or far. Crawling helps with coordination.
They’re also developing hand-eye coordination, which means they can now accurately swipe things off the table.
Red Flags:
While most visual development happens naturally, here are a few signs that might need a closer look from an ophthalmologist:
- By 2–3 months, if your baby isn’t fixing or following moving objects—get them checked.
- One eye turning in or out consistently after 3 months? Could be a squint.
- Excessive tearing without crying? Might be a blocked tear duct.
- A white reflex in photos (instead of the usual red eye)? Could indicate a serious issue. Don’t delay.
- Shaky eyes? Not a dance move. Worth checking.
So, When Should You See the Eye Doctor?
Even if everything seems fine, a routine eye check-up around 6 months is a good idea. Please get it done earlier if something feels “off.” Always trust your instincts.