Question

My baby is 3 months old. How does a baby's sight develop? At what stage can they identify light and dark? At what stage can they identify objects?

Answer

Your baby is seeing lots of things now and has been for a long time! Before he was born he could detect light and could turn himself toward a light source near your abdomen. At birth he could see your face; by now he can follow you across the room with his eyes. He recognizes you and is likely to put on his best coos and wiggles when he first sees you. If you're sad or distracted, he'll pick up your subtle expressions. He's learning more each day about depth and distance as he discovers his hands and what they can do to make life interesting. He'll try to grab reachable objects but is unlikely to be successful at this age; he needs more practice getting his eyes and hands to work together. He'll work hard to make objects move, such as kicking his feet if a piece of yarn tied gently to them makes a mobile move. Vision is one of the best ways for him to learn about his world. If you have any questions about your baby's vision, have his health care provider check it for you. Otherwise enjoy his visual exploration!