What Do Infants See?

When infants open their eyes, what does the world look like to them? Newborns can see objects about 8-12 inches away from their face – just about the distance to their mother’s face during feeding. It takes a few months for a baby’s eyes to work together as a team, and it’s normal for their eyes to appear to wander or cross. Around 3 or 4 months of age, babies can follow moving objects with their eyes, and begin seeing color. They’ll reach for things as they learn to focus their eyes. After this stage, babies can develop depth perception and eye-body coordination, which will help them when they start crawling. To ensure your infant develops healthy vision, schedule your baby’s first eye exam with an eye care professional between 6 and 12 months of age.