Birth to about four months
Everything is close-range. A baby's primary focus is 8 to 10 inches away, and in the first months the eyes start working together and vision improves quickly. At around three months, babies begin to follow moving objects with their eyes and to reach for things. This is the window when bold, high-contrast shapes hold attention best.
What helps, according to the American Optometric Association: keep reach-and-touch toys within the baby's focus, about eight to twelve inches, and use a nightlight or other dim lamp in the baby's room.
Around five months
Two big things arrive together. It is generally believed that babies have good color vision by 5 months of age, and it is not until around the fifth month that the eyes are capable of working together to form a three-dimensional view of the world. Depth, and with it reaching and grabbing, gets much better from here.
Five to eight months
With depth perception working, babies want things to act on. The American Optometric Association suggests hanging a mobile, crib gym or various objects across the crib for the baby to grab, pull and kick.
What this means for play
Early on: faces, contrast and things held close. Later: color, movement and anything graspable. Our printable high-contrast cards are made for the first stage.
Questions parents ask
When do babies start following things with their eyes?
At around three months. The American Optometric Association says babies should begin to follow moving objects with their eyes and reach for things at about that age.
When should I worry about my baby's eyes?
Raise anything that concerns you with your pediatrician or an eye doctor rather than waiting: they would always rather look and find nothing. The American Optometric Association advises a first thorough eye examination at about 6 months even if nothing seems wrong, and lists signs worth acting on sooner: excessive tearing, red or encrusted eyelids, constant eye turning, extreme sensitivity to light, or a white pupil.