How Far Can Babies See?

How far can babies see? What does the world look like to them? How does their vision develop over their first few months of life? Let’s take a look.
If your desire to see life through your baby’s eyes is very strong, you’re not alone.

The question of how babies see the world is a constant source of amazement for new parents.

So how far can babies see? How does their vision develop? And what exactly does the world look like to them?

The truth is, all humans see things differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all to this.

What we do know is that there are some key milestones to (warning: pun ahead) watch out for.

Let’s take a look. (Oops. Another one. Sorry.)

In this article 📝

What is the maximum distance a baby can see?

Your baby is born with the ability to see.

Way back when they were in the womb, they could distinguish between light and dark.

Once they’re born, they begin adjusting to the colorful, bright world they’ve recently joined.

This is how your newborn’s vision will grow over time:

• Honing their focus: When your baby is born, they are nearsighted, meaning they can only see objects very close up. At this early stage, they can see somewhere between six and ten inches away. After that, it’s all a blur. This kind of vision is defined as somewhere between 20/200 and 20/400. (20/20 is perfect vision, so they’re still a long way off.)
  
• Adjusting to bright light: If you’ve noticed that they’re more willing to open their eyes in dimmer spaces, that’s because, at this point in their lives, they’re not too keen on bright lights.
  
• Learning to see color: When they start out, their world is black, white and gray. So vintage. They’ll slowly be introduced to the wonders of color that surround them.
  
• Getting those eyes to work as a team: It’s common for babies to have (literally) a wandering eye. Their eyes might criss-cross or head off in different directions. It can take a few months for them to work out how to cooperate with one another. While this is normal, if you notice their eyes turning inward or that either of their pupils is white, it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor.

As they get older, their vision improves and their eye muscles get stronger. While no two babies are exactly alike, the process goes a little something like this:

How far can babies see at 1 month?

By the one-month mark, they might be able to focus on objects that are slightly farther away—possibly in the range of twelve inches.

They also might be adding a splash of color to their worlds.

By this stage, some babies are able to see red—not the anger version, the primary color version.

As they learn to see the world, it’s a good idea to give them lots of interesting things to look at.

The American Pediatrics Society suggests high contrast images, such as black and white patterned objects, checkerboards, and concentric circles.

How far can babies see at 2 months?

At two months, they are learning how to focus their eyes and deal with brighter lights.

Their ability to see color continues to progress, and they start to be able to tell the difference between shades.

Wow, red and orange are different hues!

The best part is, they learn all of this through interacting with you and the world around them.

Changing up the objects in their immediate environments can help to keep them stimulated and engaged.

How far can babies see at 3 months?

When they get to three months, they might be able to follow a moving object around.

They love faces.

Full permission to show them yours at every turn.

Plus, installing a baby-safe mirror above their cribs can keep them highly entertained.

How far can babies see at 4 months?

By four months, they might have developed some hand-eye coordination, often expressed as a desire to pick up a beloved toy.

Talking to them as you move around the room will help with this. Adding a mobile or crib gym is also a great idea at this stage.

Another adorable development? They may be able to recognize your face.

And how far can a 4 month-old see?

While it’s different for different babies, they can probably see several feet in front of them.

How far can a 5-month-old see?

If you’ve noticed that your baby can see you from further away, you’re probably right.

At five months, baby’s vision is constantly improving, and their range might stretch all the way across the room.

Their depth perception is also getting a whole lot better, as they are now able to figure out when objects are closer up or further away.

Plus, their world is now a whole lot more colorful.

How far can babies see at 6 months?

In these six months, your baby’s ability to see has really improved.

What was 20/400 vision at birth is often now in the region of 20/25.

They’re also able to enjoy the rainbow of colors that make up the world.

If your baby’s eyes are still struggling to focus and/or work together at six months, it could be a sign of an eye condition called strabismus.

If this is the case, there are treatments available that range from eye glasses to exercises to medication.

But even if it doesn’t seem like anything’s up, it’s a good idea to have a checkup.

The American Optometric Association recommends an eye exam at about this time.

Here, the optometrist will check for near and farsightedness, astigmatism, movement and coordination, and general eye health.

Vision is an important part of their growth and development.

The sooner you are able to pick up any vision challenges, the sooner you will be able to help them.

And know that you don’t have to go on this journey alone.

Let’s connect. Join us on Peanut.

👶 More baby milestones:
Your Guide to Baby’s First Haircut
When Do Babies Walk?
When Do Babies Crawl?
When Do Babies Roll Over?
When Do Babies Start Talking?
When Do Babies Start Smiling?
When Do Babies Sit Up?
When Do Babies Start Teething?
When Do Babies Stop Spitting Up?
When Do Babies Start Cooing?
When Do Babies Get Kneecaps?
When Do Babies Grow Hair?
When Do Babies Clap?
When Do Babies Start Dreaming?
When Do Babies Make Eye Contact?
When Can Babies Hold Their Head Up?
What Are the Different Stages of Crawling?
When Can Babies Eat Baby Food?
When Do Babies Start Laughing?
Baby Growth Spurts: What are the Milestones?