When Can Newborns See? The Answer Might Surprise You!

In the first few days of life, newborns can’t see very well at all, so why are they always awake? Why do their eyes look like they’re moving around? These questions and more will be answered in this guide to when newborns can see!

As the birth of your newborn approaches, you might be wondering when they’ll finally be able to see, hear, and use their fingers to grasp objects around them. The answer might surprise you! Here are some of the key milestones you can expect from your baby during the first months of their life.

We all know that human babies are born with their eyes closed and that they can’t see until after they are born, but what we don’t often think about is when exactly does this change happen? When do babies start to see and how does it happen? The answer to this question might surprise you, so keep reading to find out the answer to these questions and more!

Do newborns have colour vision?

We tend to think of humans as being born with adult abilities. But it turns out that’s not always true. For example, some people learn only later in life how to see in colour; newborn babies can see in colour right away but lose that ability by age three months. 

Other people are born without colour vision and don’t realize they have a problem until their teens or adulthood when friends start making fun of their wardrobe choices. It’s also possible for a baby to be blind at birth and then regain sight after surgery. So what about colour vision? Can newborns see in colour? It depends on whom you ask. Some experts say yes, others say no. Let’s take a look at both sides of the argument.

Eye problems in new babies

Babies are born with soft, pliable lenses that don’t focus well on close objects. This is called myopia and in adults, it’s called nearsightedness. As babies grow, their eyes will naturally change shape to accommodate for distance vision. This occurs between 6 months and 2 years of age but sometimes longer depending on a child’s genetic make-up and environmental factors. 

At birth, your baby can see clearly at about 8 inches away from his face. By 3 months old he can see clearly at about 12 inches away from his face. At 6 months old he can see clearly at about 20 inches away from his face. By one year old he can see clearly at about 30 inches away from his face.

Should you let your baby watch TV?

It’s not uncommon for a parent to ask, Can my baby watch TV yet? One parent says yes and another says no. To help you make an informed decision on whether or not it is okay to let your child watch television, here are some reasons why babies should not be watching TV at a young age. Some of these may surprise you. 

If there are any other good reasons that I missed, please feel free to add them in the comments below. Also, if you have children who were allowed to watch TV when they were younger and they turned out just fine, don’t worry about what others say—it is ultimately up to you as a parent. 

However, if you do decide that letting your child watch TV isn’t right for your family, then by all means keep him away from it!

How much does your baby see at birth, really?

Babies can see clearly enough to make out blurry shapes, but they can’t really see anything until about four weeks after birth. Babies have 20/400 vision at birth, which means that from a distance of 20 feet, they see as well as a person with normal vision sees from 400 feet away. 

A baby’s eyesight improves during their first few months of life—at about four weeks old, for example, it improves to about 20/160. By three months, babies are seeing more clearly and can distinguish between light and dark patterns. At six months, babies have 20/20 vision (which is considered normal). 

However, there are some instances in which newborns might not be able to see as well as expected; if your baby has cataracts or retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), he or she may need glasses right away. Your paediatrician will help you determine whether your newborn needs glasses and how soon.

What about night vision in babies?

Most babies are born with eyes that can’t adjust to night vision, which is one of the reasons why babies are so dependent on adults when they’re first born.

 In fact, if you look back at photos of yourself as a newborn—taken in a room lit with just one or two candles or a low-wattage bulb. You might be surprised to find that your eyes looked just like your baby’s do now: white, unfocused, and unable to see in low light. 

It takes time for babies to develop night vision, but once it happens, it happens quickly; by three months old, most babies have developed enough night vision to move around without bumping into things.

When Can Newborns See?

While some parents might worry about their newborn’s vision, there’s no need to panic. Most of us think that when a child is born, his or her eyesight hasn’t developed fully and they aren’t able to see anything. In reality, children are capable of seeing colour as soon as they’re born. 

However, they may not be able to see very well. For example, if you hold your hand up in front of your baby’s face at birth, he or she will look right through it because babies don’t have good focusing abilities yet. This means that while your baby can see things at birth, he or she may not recognize them until several weeks later. 

At first, your baby won’t be able to focus on objects within 10 feet away from him or her—but over time, their ability to focus will improve dramatically. By three months old, most babies can see clearly for distances of 20 feet away from them.

Conclusion

Newborn babies can't see. While most parents may assume that their little ones are able to see right away, newborns are actually born with baby blue eyes because they have underdeveloped eyesight. In fact, it takes time for a newborn's eyesight to develop and come into focus. 

At birth, your baby’s eye muscles haven't fully developed and her brain still needs to learn how to interpret all of those visual signals it's receiving from her eyes. By around two months old, your baby will be able to make out shapes and colours. By six months old, she'll be able to recognize faces and by 12 months old she'll be seeing as well as an adult. 

And don't worry if you notice that your child has strabismus (or crossed eyes). Strabismus is usually present at birth but usually corrects itself within a few weeks. If not, contact your paediatrician.