One of the most fascinating things about newborns is how quickly their senses develop in the first few months. While your baby’s eyesight and hearing aren’t fully developed at birth, they are already recognizing familiar voices and starting to explore the world visually.
In this guide, we’ll explain what newborns can actually see and hear, how these senses evolve over time, and how you can help support their development.
What Can Newborns See at Birth?
👶 Newborn vision is blurry at birth, and babies can only see 8-12 inches away—just about the distance from your face while feeding!
📌 Newborn Vision Facts:
✔️ Babies prefer high-contrast colors (black, white, and red).
✔️ They are naturally drawn to faces, especially their parents’ faces.
✔️ Newborns can track movement but only in a very limited range.
✔️ By 3 months, babies can see across the room and focus better.
💡 How to Support Vision Development:
- Use high-contrast books or toys.
- Make lots of eye contact! Newborns love faces.
- Change positions often so baby sees different things.
💡 Related Post: Newborn Bonding: How to Build a Strong Connection with Your Baby
What Can Newborns Hear at Birth?
👂 Hearing is one of the most developed senses at birth! Babies have been listening to your voice, heartbeat, and external sounds while in the womb.
📌 Newborn Hearing Facts:
✔️ Babies recognize voices—especially their parents’.
✔️ They are comforted by familiar sounds from pregnancy.
✔️ Loud noises may startle them (Moro Reflex).
✔️ By 1-2 months, babies turn toward sounds.
✔️ By 3-4 months, babies respond to their names.
💡 How to Support Hearing Development:
- Talk and sing to your baby as much as possible.
- Expose baby to different sounds (gentle music, soft nature sounds).
- Use white noise to mimic the womb’s environment.
💡 Related Post: Newborn Crying: What’s Normal & How to Soothe Your Baby
How Vision & Hearing Develop Over Time
| Age | Vision Milestones | Hearing Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Birth-1 Month | Sees 8-12 inches, prefers faces | Reacts to loud sounds, recognizes parent’s voice |
| 2-3 Months | Begins tracking moving objects, notices bright colors | Turns head toward sounds, coos in response |
| 4-6 Months | Recognizes familiar faces from a distance | Reacts to music, giggles at familiar voices |
| 6+ Months | Depth perception improves, follows fast movement | Responds to name, babbles back in conversation |
📌 Pro Tip: If your baby isn’t responding to sound or tracking movement by 3 months, talk to your pediatrician.
💡 Related Post: Newborn Reflexes: What They Mean & Why They Matter
When to Be Concerned About Vision or Hearing
🚩 Possible Vision Issues:
❌ One eye seems weaker or drifts inward/outward.
❌ Baby doesn’t track objects by 3 months.
❌ Extreme sensitivity to light.
🚩 Possible Hearing Issues:
❌ Baby doesn’t react to loud sounds by 1 month.
❌ No response to parent’s voice by 2-3 months.
❌ Baby isn’t babbling by 6 months.
📌 Early intervention is key! If something seems off, don’t wait—talk to your pediatrician.
Birthify’s Expert Support for New Parents
💛 Curious about your baby’s vision or hearing development? Not sure if their progress is on track? Birthify’s newborn care specialists provide real-time support so you can feel confident in your baby’s growth.
👉 Join Birthify today and get expert-led newborn support! Sign up here