Babies at birth have wide eyes, as if they wanted to catch the whole new world that just appeared before their eyes for the first time. However, they see virtually nothing. Let's start to analize how much newborns see, and what is the evolution of their visual ability during the first months of life.
After those first moments of life with tremendously open eyes, it is common for newborn babies to keep their eyes closed most of the time. We should not be alarmed, as it is not related to vision defects. From the first moment the baby can see, although the central area of the retina is not yet developed and his vision is limited.
How do you see the newborn?
The newborn can perceive changes in the intensity of light. It perceives flashes, reflections, when a light is turned on from total darkness, and can set contrast points.
We can see his reflection reflex: the baby will turn his head towards the spotlight (except if it is so intense that it bothers him, as it would bother us adults). Also the photomotor reflex, which is that the pupils contract when they are illuminated. The newborn is able to see objects in an extension of 20 to 30 centimeters and probably on a scale of white, black and gray.
In Babies and moreEye contact with your baby: why it is important to look the newborn in the eyesWhat does the baby see in the first weeks of life
One of the first visual stimuli that the newborn will be able to interpret is mother's face. In addition, he will begin to associate that face with a series of sensations that we can make pleasant: the voice, the touch, the caresses, the heat, the satiety of hunger.
At two weeks old shows interest in elongated objects and contrasted with the background, that is, differentiated in terms of color and luminosity. The human face meets these characteristics, so it will be especially fixed on the faces of those around him. And, within the human face, the baby tends to focus more on the area around the eyes.
It is thought that one of the colors that attracts you most in these first weeks of life, perhaps because it is one of the first that begins to discern, it's the red. Since he is not able to see clearly at this time, it is common for him to cross his eyes in a strabatic look that comes and disappears immediately, since he cannot focus both eyes at the same time.
What do you see in the first month of life
Towards the end of the first month of life, the baby will begin to show a certain interest in the environment, although his attention is limited to a very limited radius and for very short periods of time.
In this gif we can see how the vision of the baby evolves from birth to the first year of life.
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Around two months of life (8-10 weeks) you can follow an object in slow motion at a distance of 30-60 centimeters in a 180 degree arc. If before they could focus on fuzzy objects, they can now perceive the outline of them. In addition, this progress is accompanied by greater control of the head associated with muscle strengthening.
Starting at 10 weeks there is a remarkable advance in the baby's visual ability that can easily be checked by his parents: discover his hands. It is because he is now able to perceive the smallest details quite well, and can focus almost any distance.
In addition, you can now open and close your hands, direct them to an object and hit it, and begin perfecting hand-eye coordination. That is why you can spend long moments moving and observing your hands. You will soon discover its usefulness to manipulate your environment.
What do you see after three months
Between three and four months the increased eye muscle control It allows the baby to follow objects, and the increase in visual acuity allows him to discriminate objects from backgrounds with minimal contrast (like a button on a blouse of the same color).
What do you see after four months
Between four and six months color vision develops. Recognizes objects and looks for them with the eyes, is able to see more distance.
What do you see after seven months
After seven months, you can stare at small objects and start having a depth perception. You can see all the colors and little by little you will be able to follow objects that move faster.
In short, the main exchange between the baby and its environment is established through the eyes, starting with the parents, but the vision is the least developed sense in the newborn. Therefore, it requires a process of adaptation and learning that we have tried to summarize.
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