Question

The parents of a newborn ask the nurse how much the newborn can see. The parents specifically want to know what type of visual stimuli they should provide for their newborn. What is the basis for the nurses' response?

a. Infants can see very little until about 3 months of age.
b. Infants can track their parent's eyes and distinguish patterns; they prefer complex patterns.
c. The infant's eyes must be protected. Infants enjoy looking at brightly coloured stripes.
d. It's important to shield the newborn's eyes. Overhead lights help them see better.

Answer 1

Newborns can see objects about 18 inches away and show a preference for human faces. They have limited color perception, which improves over time. Parents should provide high-contrast patterns and spend face-to-face time to stimulate vision development.

Step-by-step explanation:

Newborns have a vision that is developing, with the ability to focus on objects about 46 cm (18 in.) in front of them, which allows them to see their mother's face during feeding. However, newborn vision has limitations in terms of color perception, with only about three-quarters of newborns able to distinguish red and fewer than half can distinguish other colors like green, yellow, or blue. This color perception improves rapidly after birth.

Visual stimuli that are appropriate for newborns include shiny objects, items with sharp contrasting colors, and complex patterns, as these are more likely to catch the infant's attention. Above all, newborns show a preference for human faces. Therefore, parents can provide visual stimuli that include face-time with the infant and using toys or materials with high-contrast patterns to stimulate their developing sight.

Hearing is well developed in newborns, and they respond positively to their mother's voice, which can have a soothing effect. Sense of smell is also strong in newborns, as they can distinguish the scent of their own mother. These sensory abilities aid in their interaction and bonding with caregivers.