Have you ever wondered why books for babies are usually in black and white? While babies can see from birth but the world remains very blurry for a newborn. The retina doesn’t get fully developed until 9 months old.
A newborn can see only sharp contrasts of light and dark. Their vision is the best at around 15 centimetres when babies are born. A baby’s perception of colours is also limited when born. Babies can see black and white first, followed by grey, red, and other shades.
Your baby’s brain and retina will thrive when you offer them constantly stimulating visual stimulation using simple black and white/light and dark images and striking, contrasting designs and shapes.
If you want to know the benefits of black and white cards for babies, keep reading this blog:
Why is black and white good for babies?
As babies grow, they cannot perceive the world the same way as us because their retinas are not fully developed. They can only see in 10- 12 inches. The retina of a newborn baby can detect contrasts between white and black. When you have a stunning pastel-coloured nursery, this moment will not be helpful visually for your baby because they cannot distinguish between other colour contrasts.
In the coming months, your baby’s brain will begin to grow rapidly, so it’s important to provide visual stimulation.
Research has demonstrated that black & white contrasting patterns and shapes register the strongest on a newborn’s retina. This sends stronger signals to the brain. More powerful signals translate to more brain development and speedier visual development. The baby’s brain and retina will thrive by providing them with constant stimulation with simple black and white, light and dark images and striking, contrasting forms and designs.
After 5 months, you can introduce other colours to your baby because they can see and distinguish them.
Benefits of Black & White Cards for Babies
- Studies have proven that white and black contrasting designs and patterns are the most strongly on a newborn’s retina. This sends more powerful signals to the brain. Higher levels of brain stimulation mean more development and faster growth in visuals.
- It is well-documented that babies are more likely to be captivated by black and white cards than coloured ones, so it is ideal to use them if you want your baby to pay attention for a longer period.
- High-contrast cards for infants teach the eye muscles and the brain to function and coordinate properly!
- Black and white card help aid your child’s eyes by helping them recognize the shapes and colours quickly. This will help them develop better vision, hand-eye coordination, memory skills, attention span and other developmental processes.
- What’s more, black and white cards are easier on their eyes, unlike colour cards which can be overwhelming to young babies. Since they haven’t fully adjusted to colours, a card with loud colours can be too much stimulation!
Wrapping up
As discussed above, along with scientific reasons, there are many benefits to black and white cards for babies. They’re a great way to introduce your little one to the world. It teaches them how to discriminate shapes and colours and how light works. The more they get used to seeing these things in different shades, the better they will be able to handle colour later in life.
All in all, it’s an amazing activity that is not only beneficial but also fun!