Did you know that soon after birth, your baby can see shapes (or the lines where the light and dark meet)? Lucky for new parents, they will prefer looking at familiar faces the most.  

Since newborns can barely see beyond 12 inches, your face is the perfect distance for them to stare at. 

 

It's also great to provide your baby with high-contrast, black-and-white images to exercise their eye muscles, help them focus, strengthen their vision and lengthen their attention span. 

 

Here's why your baby will benefit from black-and-white images:

• Bold black-and-white images stimulate the optic nerves, which are still underdeveloped. 
• It encourages brain development without over-stimulation
• Engagement with contrasting images boosts babies' focus and can help extend their tummy time.
• Gross motor skills rely on your baby's ability to distinguish shapes, estimate the distance and coordinate their muscles to move correctly to reach something. 
• Proper stimulation can increase curiosity and memory.

Your baby's vision is one of the most important links to their new world, and there are many ways that you can incorporate visual stimulation into your daily rhythm.

Your face

Simply looking into your baby's eyes and them looking back is a big step in their visual development. You can make a funny face. He will enjoy the novelty and look at your features, such as your lips and eyebrows.

Tummy time

Place black-and-white cards in front of your baby during tummy time (1-5 minutes on the floor daily is sufficient for newborns). Then, as your baby gets stronger, put the card book in front of them so they practice lifting their neck and chin.

Changing table or crib visual cards

Create a fun layout on the wall next to your baby's crib, changing table, and anywhere else your baby spends time. Make sure you swap sides so the baby can practice looking left and right, which will also help prevent the flat head syndrome.