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.
