Stages of Development> Period of Infancy - Sensory Development of the Neonate

Sensory development is how a newborn baby (neonate) begins to use sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to experience the world outside the womb. Right after birth, these senses are rapidly growing and help the baby adjust and respond to the environment.

1. Eyes at Birth

• Eyes act alone; movements are jerky.
• Both eyes can look in different directions.

2. Reaction to Light

• At birth, the baby’s eyes hardly react to light.
• By 3 hours, still little reaction.
• By 30 hours, the baby notices light and may lift or turn their head.

3. Eye Coordination and Reflex

• By 36 hours, both eyes start moving together.
• Baby’s pupils shrink in bright light (pupillary reflex).
• Now, the baby can “see” light better.

4. Eye Movements Over the First Days

• Moves eyes first side-to-side (horizontal).
• Next, up and down (vertical).
• Finally, can make small circles.
• At first, eye movements are slow—soon they get quicker.

5. What Can Baby See?

• Can sense strong light and colors.
• Can notice high vs. low brightness.
• Best focus is at 8 inches (distance to parent’s face).
• Baby looks longer at tall or bold objects.

6. Visual Preference and Research

• Babies prefer complex patterns (like checks or stripes) over plain shapes.
• At 3 months, they focus on very thin stripes better than plain gray.

Babies stare longer at bold, complex patterns (like stripes) than plain ones. At three months, infants can even distinguish very fine stripes from plain objects at a short distance.

At feeding, the newborn will focus longest on a caregiver’s face and on bold, close patterns (like stripes or checks on clothes), not distant or plain things.

• Vision: Newborns respond to light; eye coordination improves within weeks; they can see 8 inches away at birth and track moving lights.
• Hearing: Hearing is present but poor at birth; neonates respond to loud, rhythmic sounds (e.g., heartbeat, lullabies); sensitivity improves quickly.
• Smell & Taste: Basic smell and taste present at birth; babies prefer sweet, avoid bitter; facial reactions show preferences.
• Pain & Temperature: Babies react to hot/cold and pain (e.g., pulling away); sensitivity grows over days; girls may show more pain response.
• Emotions & Movement: Early emotions are general (excitement); movements are mass activity (head, limbs); reflexes help adapt behaviour.