Having a baby is a magical experience and is one of the biggest additions to your life. You can prepare as much as you’d like, but there will always be things that you are not prepared for. This doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds; you may never be prepared for how smelly a dirty diaper can be. One thing that first-time parents should be aware of, however, is how to tell if your baby needs an eye exam and what things you can do as they grow, to ensure they are getting the best eye care possible. Read through some tips on eye care for infant vision, pre-school age, and school-age children. Schedule an appointment today at Vision Care Centre if your child has yet to have an eye exam.
Infant Vision Tips
A baby’s vision takes time to develop as they grow, and there are things a parent can do to assist in your baby’s precious eyes to develop healthily and strongly. When your baby is six months old, they may be sitting up on their own and will have a personality of their own. It is also time to schedule an appointment with a pediatric eye doctor. The optometrist will test for health problems in the eye, early detection of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and the ability of the eye to move.
- During the first four months, your baby will begin to follow objects with his or her eyes and reach for objects as depth perception continues to increase. To assist in developing eye health, keep a nightlight in your baby’s room, rearrange the baby’s crib around the room, and as you walk around the room, talk to your baby so they can follow your voice. Also, hang a mobile above the crib so their eyes can learn to focus on objects.
- From four to eight months, as body strength continues to grow, it will be important for hand-eye and eye-body coordination to strengthen as well. Both eyes should focus equally. Allow your baby to explore different shapes and objects, and let them use their hands by playing patty cake or peek-a-boo.
- From eight to 12 months old, your baby could be crawling or even walking! Crawling or walking will allow them to learn how to see distance, and they will also be able to hold onto objects and throw objects with better accuracy. Toys that will aid in developing eyesight and brain function are pull apart toys and objects that let your child see, touch, and hold all at once.
- From one to two years old, depth perception will continue to develop, and they will begin to understand abstract objects and terms. Encourage walking and give your child simple puzzles and allow them to play and experience the world around them with their eyes and hands.
During the first year of your baby’s life, the development and growth of their eyes will be crucial to the success of their early school years. Developing hand-eye coordination, being able to perceive depth, and continuing to learn different objects will give your baby an advantage when they begin preschool. Setting up an appointment with a pediatric optometrist will allow any problems to be caught early, which will benefit them for years to come. If a child has eyesight issues, there can be developmental problems because it is harder to learn depth perception and to learn objects. Contact Vision Care Centre for an eye exam for a qualified pediatric eye doctor. Catching eyesight problems early will allow your child to get glasses, and they will be able to see the world as they should when they are growing and learning with their hands and eyes.
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