Your baby’s eyesight—development milestones and checkups

Baby’s eyesight from birth to 1 month

• Initial vision capabilities are limited:
  At birth, babies are sensitive to bright lights and can only see things that are close to their face. They can blink reflexively in response to bright lights and touches to their face and can stare at faces or light for a brief moment.
• Simple focusing and tracking:
  By the time your baby reaches one month, they usually begin to focus on things with contrast and can track objects slightly. They start staring at faces and familiar objects, which is a step towards social interactions and emotional bonding.

Baby's eyesight at 2-4 months

• Eyes learning to work together:
  For the first few months of their life, your baby’s eyes may wander or look crossed. This is normal as their eyes develop the ability to work together. If it doesn’t seem to go away after a few months, let your pediatrician know.
• Able to track moving objects:
  Around this time, babies start to track the things around them more smoothly as their focus improves.
• The beginnings of hand-eye coordination:
  Infants may begin to bat at hanging toys or reach for objects within their sight, strengthening their hand-eye coordination.

Baby's eyesight at 5-8 months

• Depth perception improves:
  At this point, you may begin to notice your baby show interest in colorful objects from a distance. They can also recognize familiar faces and may smile back at their parents.
• Color vision improves:
  By 5 months, they have good color vision and can see at longer distances. They might even recognize you across the room.
• Improved coordination of eyesight and the rest of their body:
  As they reach the 6-month mark, babies start to exhibit improved hand-eye coordination and are better at grasping objects. Encouraging them to explore can enhance their developing vision skills.

Baby’s eyesight at 9-12 months

• Crawling deepens their understanding of space:
  Once a baby begins crawling around eight months, their eyesight continues to refine. They become adept at judging distances and reaching for toys more accurately.
• Beginning to combine walking with seeing:
  By nine months, they can pull themselves up to stand, and their coordination with vision is well-developed. At around 12 months, most babies can crawl effectively and even start to walk.

Keeping up with regular eye checkups as your child grows can help ensure their eyesight is working as it’s supposed to. If anything isn’t developing properly, catching it early can help your pediatrician come up with an effective treatment plan. Here’s a general schedule your pediatrician may recommend:

(0-6 months):

A pediatrician or eye care professional should examine your infant’s eyes soon after birth to check for any signs of visual impairment or eye disorders. This usually includes a “red reflex” test and a “blink and pupil response”.

6 to 12 months:

Your child's eyes should be assessed a second time during one of their well-child visits. This check often includes visually checking their eyes, testing for proper alignment and movements, and a repeat of the two tests done around birth.

12 to 36 months:

Between 12 and 36 months, your child is checked to make sure their eyes are developing normally. During this time, a photoscreening test can help identify risks for conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye), and if necessary, refer you to an eye doctor.

3 to 5 years:

An eye exam should be performed around the ages of 3 to 5 years, especially if your child is preparing for kindergarten. Visual acuity tests will help determine how well they see at various distances, and serve as step to detect refractive error issues such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. If anything is diagnosed, it’s important to get a treatment plan going immediately. For example, getting vision correction can make sure they see well at school, helping them learn and develop.

5 years and older:

After age 5, children should have annual eye exams to monitor their vision health and check for any potential problems, including refractive errors like myopia (nearsightedness), which is a common problem at this age.

Supporting your baby's vision development is an ongoing process that takes some discipline and dedication, but it can pay off in the long run. Here are some tips to help your child ‘s eyes as they grow.

1. Give them interactive play options

Engage your baby with age-appropriate toys that promote visual development. Play with items that are colorful and have different shapes. Hanging toys and mobiles can captivate their attention and encourage tracking.

2. Spend time outdoors

Natural light and varied distances can help support healthy visual development, and may lower their risk for myopia. Outdoor play also gives babies a chance to explore their environment, which can be mentally stimulating.

3. Limit screen time

Although some screen time can be educational, excessive exposure to screens can harm visual development for young children. Instead, focus on face-to-face interactions and play activities that stimulate their eyes and minds.

4. Schedule routine eye check-ups

Regular check-ups with an eye care professional can help catch any potential issues early on. Ask your healthcare provider about appropriate screenings and what to watch for as your child grows.

5. Monitor developmental milestones

Keep an eye on the stages of baby eyesight progression, and note any delays or concerns that may arise. If you notice signs like difficulty tracking objects or excessive squinting and blinking, bring these to your pediatrician's attention.