How does vision develop through infancy

Turn off Animations. Turn on Animations. Our Sponsors Log in Register. Log in Register. Ages and Stages. Healthy Living. Safety and Prevention. Family Life. Health Issues. Tips and Tools. Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician. By 10 months of age, babies usually exhibit fine grasping skills, using their thumb and forefinger to hold items.

During this stage, babies are also able to watch fast-moving objects. In this stage, your toddler is refining their fine motor skills by drawing as well as practicing memory recall when they look at pictures in books or photographs. During this time, children realize that when they look in a mirror, they see themselves and not some other child. Their depth perception and ability to focus both near and far are also improved.

But after 4 months, if your baby still has misaligned eyes, you should speak with your pediatrician. Another major concern is poor visual tracking in babies older than 3 months. A lazy eye, also known as amblyopia , is something that should be treated as soon as the symptoms are first seen. While some, like red or crusting eyelids, usually mean infection, others can indicate more serious conditions. Unsurprisingly, one of the best ways to encourage vision development with your little one is to play with them.

Keeping baby engaged with the world around them can do wonders when it comes to helping them develop important hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. For example, since newborns can only see within an 8- to inch range from their face, age-appropriate toys should be kept within this area.

Encourage activities like tummy time to help babies explore their world. As your baby grows and begins to expand their motor skills, continue to engage them with fun games like patty-cake or peekaboo. You can also play with blocks or building toys together. And of course, as your child begins to crawl, creep, or pull themselves up, be their biggest cheerleader. Most importantly, incorporating routine eye exams is essential to ensuring proper eye health and addressing any vision issues as soon as they arise.

Your newborn has loved to look up at you from the minute they were born, but just how good is their eyesight? If your baby is rubbing their eyes, sleepiness is the obvious cause. Here's how to know if it's something more. As a parent, you're likely watching your little one's every move and wondering it they're "on time" for those precious baby development stages.

If you find yourself looking at your little one and see a cross-eyed baby looking back at you, it's probably nothing to worry about. Crossed eyes are…. Medically Reviewed by Kyle Monk, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals.

Back to Top. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. When Do Babies Roll Over? A Look At Your Newborn. View Sources.