At birth, the least developed sense is vision. Newborns can see, but their vision is quite blurry and limited. They are only able to focus on objects that are about 8 to 12 inches away, which is roughly the distance to a caregiver’s face when being held.
The reason for this underdevelopment is that the visual system takes time to mature after birth. In the initial weeks and months, infants gradually learn to focus on objects, track movements, and distinguish between different colors. By around 6 months, many babies have significantly better vision and can see more clearly over greater distances.
This gradual development of vision contrasts with other senses, such as touch and taste, which are relatively well developed at birth. Understanding this aspect of sensory development helps caregivers know what to expect as their child grows and to engage appropriately with them during these early stages.