When do babies start seeing colors? It’s a common question for new parents, especially when setting up a nursery filled with vibrant hues. At birth, a baby’s vision is still developing, and they can’t immediately perceive the full spectrum of colors. During the neonatal stage (the first 28 days), babies have a limited focus. Therefore, they can only see objects that are about 8 to 12 inches away. This early phase is more about their ability to detect light and shapes rather than distinguishing colors. As their eyes and visual system mature, their ability to see colors will gradually improve, though it’s not immediate.
So, when do babies start seeing colors? Well, over the first few months, babies begin to differentiate between high-contrast colors, with red and black being the most noticeable. By around 2 to 3 months, babies begin to respond to primary colors, although their focus is still developing. While they won’t yet be able to distinguish subtle shades, they’ll begin to focus on objects further away and engage with their environment more visually. As their eyesight continues to evolve, your little one will become more adept at perceiving a wider range of colors, making the world around them increasingly vivid.
When Do Babies Start Seeing Colors?
Right after birth, babies gradually begin to learn how to focus their eyesight. You might have observed something while breastfeeding, that your baby keeps their vision fixed on you. They can see your eyes very well. They can even see objects 8-10 inches away from them, but not beyond.
Newborns can hardly see color at all, but by the time they’re 6 months old, they begin to recognize and organize colors. Their ability to see and understand colors starts to improve, and they begin to see color consistently, just like we do in the natural world. (1).
What Colors Can Babies See?
A newborn can only see dark and light, like black, white, and gray (2). The vision of a newborn slowly develops, and they will start to identify bold lines of red by the time they are eight weeks old. A baby can see appropriate colors like red, blue, purple, and green from 5 months. A baby can easily distinguish and identify almost all dark, light, and other shades of colors by the time they are 12 months old.
As a parent, you must play a keen role in developing their cognitive skills by playing with them. Show them different objects and surround them with vibrant colors. Although the neonatal period is too early for them to see colors, their vision slowly develops to identify different colors. Quality time with your little one can also generate a deep bond between you and the baby.
When Do You Know if the Baby is Color Blind?
Knowing when a baby might be color blind can be tricky since infants are still developing their vision in the first months. Typically, color blindness isn’t diagnosed until a child is a bit older, usually around 3 to 5 years old, when they can communicate more clearly about what they see.
However, there are a few signs you can watch for, like if your child consistently has trouble distinguishing between certain colors as they grow. If you notice they often confuse colors, especially reds and greens, or struggle with tasks that require color recognition, it might be worth discussing with your pediatrician. Early testing can be done, but it’s generally not accurate in the first year of life.
[Read: Color Blindness In Toddlers]
When Should You Consider Seeing a Doctor?
Get an appointment with your doctor if you observe any of the things below.
- Call the doctor if the baby’s eyes cross inwards or outwards once they are two weeks old. (Below that, a baby is still trying to establish coordination between the two eyes).
- Talk to your doctor if you observe any rapid movement like circular or vertical movement in their eyeballs.
- Let your doctor know if the baby has fixed her vision in just one place, even after diverting them. (This can happen during the first few weeks of birth, but make sure to see your doctor if this persists)
- Once your baby grows, take them to their pediatrician if they say brown for green color. It can happen as a mistake, but make sure to see your doctor if this persists.
As the baby grows, their ability to see and focus also increases. Understanding a newborn’s vision has still been a puzzle to many studies. However, your baby can joyfully react to the different bright colors they see within a few weeks after birth.
[Read: Newborn Baby Cross-Eyed]
FAQ’s
1. What Colors Do Babies See First?
A baby can see colors at a very young age, but their brains will not receive them. According to studies, a young baby can see bold lines of red.
2. Can Babies See Colors at Two Months?
During the first few weeks, a newborn’s brain cannot perceive colors other than black and white. As their vision slowly develops, a baby starts seeing different bright colors. At the age of two months, a baby will be able to see bright red, purple, blue, and green colors.
3. What Color Can a Baby See at Six Months?
A baby can see almost all the colors, including their shades, at six months.
Read Also: When Will My Baby Start Remembering Things And People?
Reference
- Skelton AE, Maule J, Franklin A. Infant color perception: Insight into perceptual development. Child Dev Perspect. 2022 Jun;16(2):90-95 – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9314692/
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital – https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/helping-hands/infant-vision-birth-to-one-year
