So, I seem to often read that babies only see in black and white. That's why black and white baby books are so popular, because they feed off of saying that research says babies don't see color. Yet I took a child development class and we discussed how babies DO see color but that their vision is still developing and that it's only clear from like 8-12 inches away at first and gradually develops to 20/20 vision (and then sometimes deteriorates like mine did....). According to this information, they say that high contrast is important because it's easier to see. Just like me without my glasses, it's easier for me to see the difference between a person's face and dark brown hair than for me to see a distinction when things are blurry and colors blend together because they are too close for my blurry eyes to discern.
For a little speculation, let's say, babies can only see in black and white. We also know (there doesn't seem to be any dispute that I've seen about it) that babies can not see clearly and are learning to use both their eyes together to focus. So, imagine watching a black and white movie, but also not being able to focus- the things you will see best are when black and white are right next to each other and not the shades of gray. But even if a baby can't see color and are pretty much watching a black and white film... Black and white films were filmed by objects with color. I don't know how well I can explain this, but it was the camera that wasn't perceiving color. By this same manner, babies are like the camera- they can still look at objects that have color, but the higher the contrast between the colors, the easier it is going to be to see (especially since they're still learning to focus).
In a preliminary google search of my own I found a few sites that seem more reputable than some of the other ones that popped up. I don't know where either is getting their information, but they show the issue and seem to be coming from an educated stance (instead of just appearing to make up stuff based on what they've heard).
"Even in the womb babies can tell the difference between light and dark. And at birth, they see shapes by following the lines where light and dark meet. Yet, they are several weeks old before they can see their first primary color – red. In their first weeks and months, babies learn to use their eyes – actually their eyes “learn” how to see. While each eye has the physical structure it needs to begin to see normally, the two eyes haven’t learned to work together yet – and this “binocular vision” develops quickly throughout the first few weeks and months of life." (Bausch and Lomb)
Everything except the not seeing color part seems to be consistent with what we were taught about human development in my class.
The next site says: "At birth, a baby’s retina is not fully developed. The retina is the back layer of the eye that detects light. An adult retina can distinguish many different shades of light and color, but a newborn retina can only detect large contrasts between light and dark, or black and white. So while an adult can appreciate various shades of pastel colors on the wall of baby’s nursery, a newborn may only see them as one shade all blurred together.... The best way you as a parent can stimulate baby’s vision is using black and white stripes or light and dark contrasting colors.... Research has proven that black and white contrasts register powerfully on baby’s retina and send the strongest visual signals to baby’s brain. Stronger signals mean more brain growth and faster visual development." (Ask Dr Sears)
The last one seems to be in sync with what I learned in child development (except for the last part where black and white sends the strongest visual signals to baby's brain). In my child development class we talked about how we see color by the cones in our eyes. We talked about how nothing apparent is wrong with a newborn's cones, therefore they should be able to see color. But the fact that certain things are still developing (like the retina) make it so it's easier for a baby to be stimulated by black and white objects or other things of high contrast. (The article mentioned that babies can see other colors that are light and dark or large contrast between the colors.)
The last site I'm going to quote here is: "Although an infant's color vision is not as sensitive as an adult's, it is generally believed that babies have good color vision by five months of age." (American Optometric Association)
This, to me, means that their ability to discern color has matured by five months. The article says nothing about babies not being able to see color.
Anyways, I'm not going to definitively say whether or not babies can see color or not, but I tend to think they DO see color but can't always discern where one similar color fades into another and need high contrasting colors. But even so I can admit that there is a benefit to black and white books, at least if you start reading books with your child early and before their ability to discern colors has matured.
Some books I like (and have tried):
you can search for Black and White Sparklers on Amazon, or this one is available with Prime: Hello Bugs!
Or this set by Usborne (they're small books but a good size for babies)
For bright, colorful books I like Indestructibles (I like them for other reasons too...) (you can search them just like that on Amazon. Or I have Jungle Rumble or Mama and Baby
I also like Usborne's Slide and See Series. They have bright colors on every page and parts that move. My, almost 4 month old seems to really like looking at it, so I'm putting it here as a visually stimulating book. Here's a link to the Under the Sea one and Baby's Very First Slide and See Animals
There are many other black and white books that you can search for on Amazon. I recognize many, but haven't personally tried them all. Just remember, what you want is black and white OR ones with contrasting colors- the larger the contrast, the better.
For a little speculation, let's say, babies can only see in black and white. We also know (there doesn't seem to be any dispute that I've seen about it) that babies can not see clearly and are learning to use both their eyes together to focus. So, imagine watching a black and white movie, but also not being able to focus- the things you will see best are when black and white are right next to each other and not the shades of gray. But even if a baby can't see color and are pretty much watching a black and white film... Black and white films were filmed by objects with color. I don't know how well I can explain this, but it was the camera that wasn't perceiving color. By this same manner, babies are like the camera- they can still look at objects that have color, but the higher the contrast between the colors, the easier it is going to be to see (especially since they're still learning to focus).
In a preliminary google search of my own I found a few sites that seem more reputable than some of the other ones that popped up. I don't know where either is getting their information, but they show the issue and seem to be coming from an educated stance (instead of just appearing to make up stuff based on what they've heard).
"Even in the womb babies can tell the difference between light and dark. And at birth, they see shapes by following the lines where light and dark meet. Yet, they are several weeks old before they can see their first primary color – red. In their first weeks and months, babies learn to use their eyes – actually their eyes “learn” how to see. While each eye has the physical structure it needs to begin to see normally, the two eyes haven’t learned to work together yet – and this “binocular vision” develops quickly throughout the first few weeks and months of life." (Bausch and Lomb)
Everything except the not seeing color part seems to be consistent with what we were taught about human development in my class.
The next site says: "At birth, a baby’s retina is not fully developed. The retina is the back layer of the eye that detects light. An adult retina can distinguish many different shades of light and color, but a newborn retina can only detect large contrasts between light and dark, or black and white. So while an adult can appreciate various shades of pastel colors on the wall of baby’s nursery, a newborn may only see them as one shade all blurred together.... The best way you as a parent can stimulate baby’s vision is using black and white stripes or light and dark contrasting colors.... Research has proven that black and white contrasts register powerfully on baby’s retina and send the strongest visual signals to baby’s brain. Stronger signals mean more brain growth and faster visual development." (Ask Dr Sears)
The last one seems to be in sync with what I learned in child development (except for the last part where black and white sends the strongest visual signals to baby's brain). In my child development class we talked about how we see color by the cones in our eyes. We talked about how nothing apparent is wrong with a newborn's cones, therefore they should be able to see color. But the fact that certain things are still developing (like the retina) make it so it's easier for a baby to be stimulated by black and white objects or other things of high contrast. (The article mentioned that babies can see other colors that are light and dark or large contrast between the colors.)
The last site I'm going to quote here is: "Although an infant's color vision is not as sensitive as an adult's, it is generally believed that babies have good color vision by five months of age." (American Optometric Association)
This, to me, means that their ability to discern color has matured by five months. The article says nothing about babies not being able to see color.
Anyways, I'm not going to definitively say whether or not babies can see color or not, but I tend to think they DO see color but can't always discern where one similar color fades into another and need high contrasting colors. But even so I can admit that there is a benefit to black and white books, at least if you start reading books with your child early and before their ability to discern colors has matured.
Some books I like (and have tried):
you can search for Black and White Sparklers on Amazon, or this one is available with Prime: Hello Bugs!
Or this set by Usborne (they're small books but a good size for babies)
For bright, colorful books I like Indestructibles (I like them for other reasons too...) (you can search them just like that on Amazon. Or I have Jungle Rumble or Mama and Baby
I also like Usborne's Slide and See Series. They have bright colors on every page and parts that move. My, almost 4 month old seems to really like looking at it, so I'm putting it here as a visually stimulating book. Here's a link to the Under the Sea one and Baby's Very First Slide and See Animals
There are many other black and white books that you can search for on Amazon. I recognize many, but haven't personally tried them all. Just remember, what you want is black and white OR ones with contrasting colors- the larger the contrast, the better.
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