Welcome, Calgary parents! As your infant grows, their vision undergoes significant changes. Recognizing and understanding these vision development milestones helps ensure your baby’s eyes are healthy and developing correctly. Here’s a concise guide to what you can expect during your little one’s first year of life.

Birth to Three Months

In the initial months after birth, infants start to explore their world visually. However, their vision is not yet fully developed. Here are a few key developments to look out for:

• Focus: Newborns can see objects and people most clearly when they are 8 to 10 inches away. This is roughly the distance to your face when feeding, which is perfect for bonding!
• Tracking: By around six weeks, babies begin to follow moving objects with their eyes.
• Color Vision: Initially, babies see high-contrast colors more clearly. Gradually, they start distinguishing between colors.

Four to Six Months

This period is exciting as your baby’s vision capabilities grow rapidly:

• Depth Perception: Around the fifth month, babies start to develop depth perception, which is the ability to see the world in three dimensions.
• Hand-Eye Coordination: As they gain control over their eye movements, babies begin to coordinate their vision with their hands. This is evident as they start reaching for and grasping objects.

Seven to Twelve Months

Babies continue to refine the skills developed in earlier months:

• Recognizing Faces: By eight months, babies can typically recognize familiar faces, even at a distance.
• Improved Accuracy: Their ability to track moving objects improves, making their movements more precise.
• Visual Exploration: As they approach their first birthday, most infants are using their eyesight to actively explore and engage with their environment.

Each child develops at their own pace, but these milestones provide a general guideline. If you notice any signs that your child’s visual development might be delayed, such as not following objects with their eyes by two to three months or difficulty recognizing familiar faces after six months, it’s important to consult with a specialist.

Need Professional Eye Care Services?

If you have concerns about your child’s vision or simply need expert guidance on their visual health, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us at (587) 355-5433 to schedule a consultation. Here at our Calgary clinic, we’re committed to providing your family with comprehensive and compassionate eye care.