What Can My Baby See?

New parents often wonder “what exactly can my baby see?” Up to about 3 months of age, babies’ eyes do not focus on objects more than 8 to 10 inches from their faces. During the first months of life, the eyes start working together and vision rapidly improves. Eye-hand coordination begins to develop as the infant starts tracking moving objects with her eyes and reaching for them. By eight weeks, babies begin to more easily focus their eyes on the faces of a parent or other person near them.

For the first two months of life, an infant’s eyes are not well coordinated and may appear to wander or to be crossed. This is usually normal. However, if an eye appears to turn in or out constantly, check with your baby’s doctor.

Babies should begin to follow moving objects with their eyes and reach for things at around 3 months of age.

-Source: American Optometric Association