It’s all black and white
Like many people, I enjoy looking at toys and books for babies. There are so many choices, in such lovely colours. Therefore, it is surprising to realise afresh that newborn babies have limited colour perception and respond most actively to black and white images.
Babies’ eyes are poorly developed at birth. They can distinguish shapes, or the difference between light and dark. Their range of vision is limited to fifteen to thirty centimetres (six to twelve inches), which is just about the distance from their parent’s faces.
Black and white images present strong contrasts and stimulate the eye muscles to develop. By the age of four months, babies can begin to discern assorted colours and can be exposed to and start to enjoy the riotous shades available in most playthings that manufacturers produce.
Interesting about the black and white.
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DeleteI'd heard that before and it makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting; I didn't know that. And another beautiful header photo!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI didn't know this, I thought babies could see colours earlier.
ReplyDeleteWe're learning all the time.
DeleteI have never seen black and white for babies. A friend used to tuck a Christmas card into the side of the cot or pram near her baby's head level - to help develop the colour perception she said.
ReplyDeleteI remember showing my newborns the Sunday Times decades ago (how middle-class can you get?)
DeleteAnother lesson for me this morning. Thank you!
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DeleteI learnt that when Will was a baby, I suggested to daughter to get him brighter toys and she explained the science to me, we are never too old to learn.
ReplyDeleteI learnt it from my youngest daughter.
DeleteIt's fascinating how something as simple as black and white can be so important for early development.
ReplyDeleteSimplicity is key in all things.
DeleteI used to tuck a picture into the pram too; it was before the black and white thing was common knowledge.
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DeleteI did not know that. (I have no children of my own, so I've not had much practice...)
ReplyDeletePaediatric specialists are discovering new things all the time. Science never stops.
DeleteI had no children, but even in this age of my life I walk through the toys whenever I'm in the department store. And actually for me it's mostly for the cheerfulness and the color that there is in the toys. I know you'll pick good ones for that new great granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteI sent her a Highland cow soft toy. I like Highland cattle.
DeleteIt's fascinating how newborns' vision develops, and this post really highlights the importance of black and white images in their early stages. I had no idea that such strong contrasts could help their eye muscles grow and their perception improve. It’s a reminder of how simple things, like high-contrast visuals, can have such a big impact during a baby's early development. It also makes me wonder how toys and books evolve with these insights in mind. A very insightful post!
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DeleteInteresting. I've often wondered how they discover these things since there is no way that a newborn baby can confirm or deny that these facts are true.
ReplyDeleteThose are questions which are difficult to answer!!
DeleteEven adults sometimes find black and white sharper than colours, and more focused. But for babies, you note that by the age of four months, those little cuties can _begin_ to discern assorted colours. I didn't read books to the children until they were at least a year in any case.
ReplyDeleteBlack and white photography is often more revealing of fine details. Colour can distract.
DeleteHow is it that we never knew this?
ReplyDeleteWhat else don't we know??
ReplyDeleteWe don't know quite a bit, IMHO, and every day, it feels like we know even less. But this actually was quite a big deal when my two youngest were babies 35 years ago. I had a black and white mobile for their cribs.
ReplyDeleteWell, you were well ahead of me . . . 😀
DeleteI heard that about babies and black and white. The problem is a black and white nursery would be boring (imnsho)
ReplyDeleteIt would be quite depressing, I think.
Deletei love black and white and this book is so cute. so much we don't know and this is news to me. I am wondering just how they figured this out just as i wonder how they know dogs see in black and white and all the other stuff THEY come up with, like how old a bone is. but i don't lose any sleep over it. ha ha
ReplyDeleteScience is wonderful!
DeleteHere’s an appreciation comment with a natural tone and emojis mixed in:
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting insight into baby development! 🧠🍼 It’s amazing how something as simple as black and white images can have such a big impact early on ⚫⚪. And by four months, they're already soaking in all those vibrant colours 🌈—no wonder baby toys are such a riot of shades! So cool to learn how vision and curiosity grow together 👀✨.
I'd no idea that babies only have limited colour perception ... xxx
ReplyDeleteWe all get on perfectly well without this knowledge, don't we?
ReplyDeleteFortunately I don't remember those color-blind years of my life!
ReplyDeleteIt's as well that we don't remember a lot of our earlier days!
DeleteThis is why I enjoy blogging!
ReplyDeleteYou never know what you are going to learn and today I learnt something new about babies colour vision...
Thank you.
All the best Jan
PS I'm sure the Highland cow soft toy you sent your new great grand-daughter was lovely.
I hope she'll grow up to appreciate it.
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