When Can Babies See Colour?
The moment you hold your baby for the first time is such a special one. One you’ll never forget. Locking eyes for the first time with the most precious thing in your world? Priceless. But what can you baby actually see when they’re born, or for those first few months of their life?
>>Let’s get into it…!
Babies are born into a visually fascinating world, but their ability to see colour develops gradually. At birth, infants see in shades of grey because their vision is still developing.
It can be easy to jump into the trap of purchasing purely black and white sensory toys, however at around 2 weeks of age, babies can start to see primary colours and by about 1 month, they start distinguishing other colours. I noticed with my son that whilst the black and white toys did of course get his attention, they were very short lived because he was a lot more interested in the colourful delights that were around him.
Of course, a baby’s vision is still not as sensitive as an adult's but the significant milestone comes at around 3 to 4 months, when babies' colour vision is well-developed, and they can see the full spectrum of colours. This is one of the reasons why Joyful Jellybean will never launch a black and white baby sensory box, because it goes against everything that the brand stands for.
Another short-lived item that’ll be packed away with the newborn babygrows… no thank you.
Providing a baby with toys that they can enjoy from newborn to toddlerhood is so important. Whilst your baby’s ability to visualise colour comes into play, their depth perception and focus is also developing, allowing them to better understand and explore their surroundings. How comforting to have a range of toys that your baby is familiar with and enjoys exploring and playing with.
I found it such a fascinating period of time watching my little one marvel at the colourful world around him. Introducing a variety of colours through toys and books during this phase can stimulate visual development and cognitive growth, making it an exciting time for both babies and adults. So if you don’t have a black and white sensory toy box on your baby shower list, don’t feel bad, you’re actually doing your baby and yourself a favour in the long run by providing them with toys they can play with for the foreseeable future!
Shop the Joyful Jellybean toy boxes today!
