Vision Milestones for Babies: What Parents and Caregivers Should Know

Did you know that babies’ eyes develop as their bodies grow? Following birth, babies start learning about the world around them. Initially, they focus on the faces of family members. But as their vision develops, babies start interacting with the people and objects they see. To ensure infants’ eyes develop correctly, parents and caregivers should watch for the following vision milestones for babies from birth to age two.

Milestone #1 – Birth to 4 months

• Initially, babies focus on people and things 8 to 10 inches from their faces. Gradually, they start noticing contrasting differences in what they see.
• In the first two months, infants’ eyes may appear to wander or be crossed. However, this is normal, and the eyes should align correctly. But if the eyes turn in or outward constantly, discuss this condition with the doctor.
• As the eyes start learning to work together, vision improves. Soon, babies can coordinate their eyes and hands together and reach for objects they see.

Four ways to help infants develop good vision during these months:

1. Frequently change the crib’s position in the room.
2. Position toys about 8 to 10 inches from the baby to encourage the development of their reach.
3. When walking around, say the names of the people and objects.
4. When feeding, alternate right and left sides.

Milestone #2 – Five to 8 months

• Babies should develop better control of eye movements and eye-body coordination.
• At about five months, the eyes start working together to create a three-dimensional world view. The eyes develop depth perception, which helps them know if objects are near or far away.
• Scientists believe that by five months, infants have a good perception of color.
• Many babies start crawling around eight months, which helps them develop better eye-hand coordination.

Four tips to encourage good vision at this stage:

1. Provide infants with lots of time for play and exploration.
2. Play patty cake and other games, moving the baby’s hands through the motions
   while saying or singing the words.
3. Hang a mobile or objects across the crib for babies to grab or kick.
4. Encourage babies to crawl instead of walking early. Medical professionals believe that walking too early may cause the eyes not to work well together.

Milestone #3 – Nine to twelve months

• Many babies begin pulling up to a standing position.
• Infants start grasping objects with their thumb and forefinger.
• Around 12 months, babies may start walking.
• During these months, many infants learn to judge distances and throw things with precision.

Two ways to support eye development during these months:

1. Play hide and seek with toys or face-to-face.
2. Say the names of objects when showing them to infants.

Milestone #4 – One to two years old

• By age two, children should have good eye-hand coordination and depth perception.
• Children are learning to explore the world around them. They recognize objects, people, and pictures in books. Some kids may scribble with crayons or a pencil.

Three ways to help kids develop vision

1. Play with building blocks of various sizes to help children develop fine motor skills.
2. Roll a ball back and forth to the child to help them track it with their eyes.
3. Read and tell stories to encourage vision development and learning.

As babies become toddlers, they’ll spend time reading and in learning situations. Review these tips on how to ensure kids have good vision for academic success.

Symptoms of vision problems

Most infants’ eyes and vision develop naturally without any problems. However, some children show signs of vision concerns that should be discussed with a doctor. Look for these symptoms:

• excessive tearing
• constant eye turning
• red eyes or crusty eyelids
• sensitivity to light
• white pupils

Schedule regular eye exams

At about 6 months, it’s time to schedule the baby’s first eye exam. During the appointment, the eye doctor will look for several developmental concerns, such as:

• signs of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
• issues with eyes working, especially when looking at books and objects
• indications of future eye health problems

Set up future eye exam appointments as directed by the doctor. Detecting potential eye and vision problems early makes it easier to correct them before they become serious conditions.

As children grow up, many spend hours on digital devices. Learn more about why parents and caregivers should encourage kids to spend time outdoors to support healthy eyesight.  

Sources and References:
John Hopkins Medicine
Stanford Medicine
Optometrists Network