Final answer:
Newborn vision is characterized by nearsightedness, where they can best see objects within about 18 inches. Their limited color perception is primarily red at first but quickly improves, as does depth perception once they start moving.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence that best describes newborn vision at birth is that they are very nearsighted, and so can best see things at a short distance. Newborns have limited color perception, and their ability to focus their vision is best at objects placed directly in front of their face at approximately 46 cm (18 in.) away, which aligns well with the distance to a mother's face during nursing. This distance is within a newborn's near point, which is the closest point at which an object is accurately focused on the retina when the eye's lens is fully accommodated. The newborn's nearsightedness, or myopia, means that objects beyond this distance will appear blurred as their eyes primarily focus on images in front of the retina.
As babies grow and develop, their vision improves including color perception and depth perception. By the time babies become mobile, their ability to perceive depth begins to develop further. It's also important to note that, aside from the distance limits, a newborn's vision includes only the ability to distinguish some colors, primarily red, with color perception improving relatively swiftly after birth.