Ask Dr. Hirsch: Weekly Q&A with Dr. Shari Hirsch, Pediatrician and Lactation Specialist at Lev Pediatric Care

Ask Dr. Hirsch

Weekly Q and A with Dr. Shari Hirsch, Pediatrician and Lactation Specialist at Lev Pediatric Care

This Week’s Question:
“How does vision develop in infants, and what should parents expect?”

Dr. Hirsch’s Answer:
Newborns arrive ready to hear your voice and recognize your scent, but vision develops more gradually. A baby’s ability to see the world unfolds over the first year of life, and it often looks different than parents expect. Knowing what’s normal can be reassuring.

What newborns can see
At birth, vision is still very immature. Newborns see best about 8 to 12 inches away, which is the distance to your face during feeding. They prefer high-contrast patterns, especially black and white, and are naturally drawn to faces. Their world is blurry, and that is completely normal.

Vision develops with the brain
Vision is not just about the eyes. It’s about the brain learning how to interpret what the eyes see. As visual pathways mature, babies begin to focus, track movement, and make sense of their surroundings. This happens gradually, not all at once.

Vision milestones
By a few months, babies begin making eye contact and briefly tracking faces or objects. By 4 to 6 months, tracking becomes smoother, depth perception improves, and babies reach for things they see. By 9 to 12 months, vision helps guide movement, play, and coordination.

Every baby develops at their own pace. These milestones are general guidelines, not deadlines.

How parents can help
You don’t need special toys. Face-to-face time, talking, smiling, reading, tummy time, and letting your baby safely explore all support healthy vision development. Everyday interaction matters most.

When to check in
Talk to your pediatrician if you notice poor eye contact after a few months, lack of tracking, eyes that consistently turn in or out, frequent eye rubbing, or anything that doesn’t seem right. Vision screening is part of routine well visits, and referrals are made when needed.

Bottom line
Vision develops step by step as your baby’s brain grows. Faces, books, and everyday moments are doing more for your baby’s vision than any toy ever could. If you have concerns, trust your instincts and bring them up early.

 ​Dr. Shari Hirsch, MD, specializes in infant feeding, including expert newborn support, lactation guidance, and frenotomy (tongue-tie release). She also offers emotional wellness care, with guidance and medication management for attention, mood, and anxiety support.

Lev Pediatric Care is located at Evergreen Uptown Mall in Pomona. Their hours are Sunday through Thursday, 10:00 am to 7:45 pm, and Friday, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Same-day appointments are available. To schedule, call 845-579-5700. They also provide free car service to and from doctor visits.

Have a question for next week’s column? Send it to Lev Pediatric Care, and Dr. Hirsch may feature it in an upcoming Q&A