Do you know what it means when your baby makes an eye contact with you?  

The moment when your infants' eyes meet your own is one of the most emotional moments in your life. New parents who look forward to the day their baby looks at them often wonder when their infant will reach this development level. We know you can't wait to know when your child will make eye contact.

Why is eye contact important?

Eye contact indicates the normal progression of the baby's neurological development. When an infant makes eye contact, parents are assured that their child recognizes them. It also reinforces the relationship between the parents and the child. Eye contact also allows intelligence to be collected and analysed. When an infant sees their parents, they begin to relate to the voices and people, to understand what a smile means and what it means to be loved.

When do infants make eye contact?

Parents usually notice their baby's first direct eye contact between six and eight weeks old. However, this period can vary, which is still considered normal, and some perfectly normal and healthy infants do not begin eye contact before the age of 3 months.

1. Usually, a baby starts to take a close look at his mother's face within seven hours of arriving in this world. Also, they tend to imitate facial expressions made by their mother.

2. In the first couple of months, Baby's eyes can focus on objects that are about 8 - 15 inches away, just far enough to take in the face of the person holding them.

3. About three months old baby will start concentrating on faces and nearby objects. Baby will also begin to track things in motion with their eyes.

4. From the age of 4 months, the baby can see a complete range of colours.

5. About seven months or so, the baby's vision will be completely mature. Meanwhile, the baby can track faster movements with his eyes. Baby can also show more interest in toys with complex motifs and forms. As the baby grows, it will make them more comfortable using their vision to explore their environment.

6. When they are 9 to 11 months old, they master the ability to follow an adult's real gaze. At this stage, they understand what the eyes are, that is, to look and see. This may take a little longer for some babies, so don't panic if your baby is taking longer.

Conclusion

Let your child grow on their own pace and don't try to control them. If you believe your child has a problem maintaining eye contact, discuss it with their paediatrician. They can tell you whether your child is on track or not.

Just like late eye contact, some may talk earlier and crawl later than others, etc., but as long as they stay close to the time frame when those things should emerge, you should not worry. Regular check-ups can determine if there is some area of development that is lagging.