WoodandHearts products regularly undergo testing to meet safety and quality standards for children's products (you can view the reports here). However, we decided to also gather expert and parent reviews of our products. That’s why today, we're talking to a pediatric ophthalmologist (who is also a mother of an infant). In this interview, we get an honest assessment of our Baby Gym Toys and their impact on infant visual development. We also asked her to explain how newborns see, how to help infants develop visual perception, and what all parents should know about this.
How Do Newborns See?
WoodandHearts: Thank you for joining us! Let’s start with the basics. How do newborns perceive the world in the first days of life?
Pediatric Ophthalmologist: Hello! I’m happy to collaborate on this interesting topic. As for infants' vision: they see the world very differently from adults. Imagine seeing the world in blurred silhouettes without clear details. That’s how a newborn perceives the world in the first few weeks of life. Their eyes still have difficulty focusing, and their visual system is just beginning to develop.
WH: Does it mean they don’t recognize their mother’s face in the first few days of life?
PO: Newborns do recognize their mother: by scent, voice, and silhouette. Moreover, in the first month of life, they can see clearly at a distance of 20–30 cm, which is roughly the space between a mother’s face and her baby during feeding. So, unless there are serious congenital vision issues, the baby will react to and recognize their mother.
WH: So, everything beyond those clear 30 cm looks blurry to a newborn?
PO: Yes and no. Let me explain. A baby’s eyes in the first weeks don’t yet know how to focus well, and colors appear dim. As for when infants start seeing colors, I can tell you that newborns respond well to contrasting combinations: black, white, and red. Babies find it much easier to process these colors and focus on them. By 2-3 months, vision becomes sharper, and the baby starts to distinguish object contours. By 6 months, binocular vision develops — the baby learns to coordinate eye movements and track objects.
WH: And when does the baby start seeing other colors? What developmental stages can we identify?
PO: As I mentioned, by 3 months, infants best perceive a few high-contrast colors, simple and clear contours. Babies begin to recognize other colors between 3-6 months. They respond better to red, yellow, and green. They clearly react to these shades better than others. Gradually, from 6 to 12 months, children begin to perceive all other colors, see more details, and can focus on objects at greater distances.
About Improving Babies’ Vision: Tips and Important Aspects
WH: What can parents do to support their child’s visual development in the first few months?
PO: Oh, this is one of the most common questions I get from parents during almost every appointment with newborns. Scientific research proves that simple contrasting images help actively develop the visual system. American psychologist Robert Fantz discovered that infants spend significantly more time looking at black-and-white patterns than at gray or pastel colors. This happens because such images stimulate the work of the visual cortex of the brain, helping form neural connections that are responsible for sharp vision, attention, and shape perception.
That’s why I was happy to test your Baby Gym Toys. These contrasting cards can be hung above the crib instead of a regular mobile, or you can offer the child to play with this mobile when they’re active, or hang them on the bars of a Montessori Triangle or Arch. The key here is that the infant is not just observing. They are curious, reacting, and trying to touch the objects. This helps develop coordination and fine motor skills.
WH: So, in your opinion, are Baby Gym Toys suitable for infant visual development?
PO: Definitely. I would recommend these cards to train babies’ vision. As for the set we tested with my baby, I see a comprehensive benefit. You see, on one hand, it really targets infant visual development, and it works. I can say this both as an ophthalmologist and as a mother who offered these solutions to my own child. Another point is that the set also includes a climbing structure — in our case, a Montessori Arch.
The wooden Arch not only encourages the child to observe but also interact with the space: reaching for the suspended elements, trying to roll over, and later on — standing up and exploring their own movement capabilities.
WH: What exercises or games can parents offer to newborns to improve babies' vision?
PO: I would recommend giving the baby a mobile with contrasting images; this will help them train their focus on objects. Also, allow the baby to track moving objects, for example, by slowly moving a toy or object in front of their eyes. Use simple-shaped rattles. They will stimulate vision, hearing, and touch, training grasping movements. I recommend using all available tools comprehensively. Hold the baby in your arms as often as you can, interact with them, so they can memorize the contours of your face. Additionally, this helps establish an emotional connection between you and the baby.
About Experience Using Baby Gym Toys
WH: What can you say about Baby Gym Toys? How effective do you think it is from your professional perspective?
PO: I gladly agreed to participate in the experiment of using Baby Gym Toys because I understood from the start that this experience would be beneficial for my baby. Given the specifics of infant visual development, this tool is perfect not only to entertain and distract the child at times but also to help develop their visual perception.
I want to emphasize that a baby’s visual development depends on small details. Don’t underestimate the power of simple black-and-white cards, just as you shouldn’t overlook a well-thought-out space for the child to explore. Everything they see and reach helps form their understanding of the world. A strong foundation in the first months lays the groundwork for confident learning and further growth.
WH: Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us and for becoming part of the WoodandHearts community. It’s incredibly nice to hear that both you and your baby liked our products and found them beneficial.
